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Gerard Pique praises Xavi

Spain defender Gerard Pique praises Barcelona and international teammate Xavi, who he believes will thrive at the World Cup.

Spain defender Gerard Pique has lavished praise on Barcelona and international teammate Xavi.

The experienced midfielder spent periods out of the Barcelona XI last season, but he remains a key player for his country, who are currently preparing for the World Cup.

"I think Xavi is arriving really good for the World Cup. Obviously for his style of play, he doesn't need to be really strong or really powerful," Pique told Sports Illustrated.

"All he needs is to be focused, concentrated and trying to be at his best in touching the ball quickly, thinking really fast. Xavi is one of the best midfielders in the last decade because he changed a little bit the how to play football.

"Before, everyone is running and running and running. Xavi never runs. The ball runs; he stays. So he changed a little bit how we play the game."

Xavi has been strongly linked with a move away from Barca this summer.

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Gerard Pique of FC Barcelona scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between FC Barcelona and Celtic FC at Camp Nou on December 11, 2013
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2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
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11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
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14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
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17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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