PA Media/dpa
London
Xavi will be hoping Barcelona can strike a blow in the race for second spot in La Liga and a place in next season’s Spanish Super Cup when they host Valencia on Monday night.
The Catalan club are currently third in the table, one point behind local rivals Girona and 14 points behind runaway leaders Real Madrid, who are on the verge of clinching their 36th La Liga title.
Barcelona would leapfrog Girona into second with a win against Valencia and head coach Xavi - who announced earlier this week that he will remain in charge next season - reaffirmed his side’s targets with six games remaining this season.
He said in a press conference reported by the Spanish press: “We’re doing well. Our objective is to finish second. The minimum target of getting in the Champions League is very close, but we want to be in the Spanish Super Cup.
“We’ve trained very well. The team looks eager to win and finish the season on a high note.
“Personally I’m very excited to be continuing for another year and I have a lot of energy and desire to prepare for next season.” Barcelona go to Catalan neighbours Girona next weekend in a match which could go a long way to determining which team finishes runners-up, but Xavi insists he is not looking beyond the clash with Ruben Baraja’s Valencia.
He added: “The most important thing is tomorrow, when we face Valencia. Then we will talk about Girona. Every game is important to achieve what we want.
“Valencia deserves a lot of credit. Baraja deserves a lot of credit.
He’s working with young players who are competing very well.” Valencia are eighth in the table, one point behind seventh-placed Real Betis and four adrift of Real Sociedad in sixth as the race for European spots heats up, although Baraja, like his Barcelona counterpart, is staying focused on the here and now.
The Valencia boss said: “We have to continue doing what we do, and if the teams ahead of us do not get positive results, then all the better.
