Xavi expects Guardiola to stay at Barcelona

Posted Tuesday, February 21, 2012 by Supersport.com

Barcelona playmaker Xavi is confident that coach Pep Guardiola will sign a new deal with the club.

Guardiola's existing contract with the Catalans expires at the end of the current campaign and the former Spain international has yet to give any indication as to whether he will sign an extension.

However, while Xavi is reluctant to second-guess his coach, the veteran midfielder remains optimistic that Guardiola will still be at Camp Nou next season.

"The coach has given us a great security," the World Cup winner told reporters at a Caixa promotional event on Monday.

"He is the key. We'd love him to renew because we are very happy with him.

"We have to wait because, after all, it is he who must decide. But he will renew."

Barcelona have taken some stick in recent weeks for falling 10 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga and Xavi admitted that Sunday's 5-1 rout of Valencia has lifted the players' spirits.

"The feelings were very good [after the game] and it gives us great confidence going into the [remaining] fixtures," he said.

"[But] we have won three titles, are in the cup final and we will continue fighting to reduce the gap with Real Madrid in the league."

Xavi was only utilised as a substitute against Valencia on Sunday because of a minor calf problem but the 32-year-old insists that he will be fit to start against Atletico Madrid next weekend.

"I'm fine," he claimed. "I felt good against Valencia and will hopefully in top [condition] on Sunday [at the Vicente Calderon]."

Xavi, a product of the Barcelona youth team, is now approaching 500 La Liga appearances for the club.