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Xavi hopes for 'dream' finish to Barca career with CL title

FC Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez smiles during a press conference at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in San Joan Despi, Spain, Thursday, May 21, 2015.
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SANT JOAN DESPI, Spain, June 2: Xavi Hernandez can put the perfect finish on his Barcelona career by winning the Champions League for a fourth time in his last game after 17 seasons.

Hernandez has won a club-record 24 titles and can make it 25 if Barcelona beats Juventus in Saturday's final in Berlin.

"It's better than my wildest dream," the 35-year-old midfielder said at Barcelona's training ground on Tuesday. "It doesn't matter if I start the game from the bench or from the pitch. For me, it's extraordinary to play my last game for Barca in the Champions League final."Xavi took his club milestone to 766 appearances in his last match at Camp Nou on Saturday, when he went on as a substitute to help secure a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

Unless Andres Iniesta fails to recover from a tweak to his right leg, Xavi will likely begin the Champions League final from the dugout.

Iniesta was optimistic that he would be fit.

"I felt some pain and nothing more," said Iniesta. "The thought that I won't be ready on Saturday doesn't cross my mind."

Iniesta said the chance to send Xavi off in such fine fashion with a treble of titles, including the already won Spanish league title, provides the squad with even more motivation against Juventus.

"There is no doubt it would be perfect," Iniesta said. "This has still been a spectacular season, but what a way for a player to say farewell. I imagine him lifting the Champions League trophy. It would be perfect for him and his teammates. We have to do all we can to make that image a reality."

Xavi is leaving Spain for Qatar to play for club Al-Sadd on a two-year contract. But he has said he hopes to return to Barcelona one day, perhaps as a coach, following the path trod by manager Luis Enrique and predecessor Pep Guardiola.

In the meantime, Xavi said he is leaving Barcelona in the good hands of Iniesta and star forward Lionel Messi.

"I am leaving, but this generation continues," he said. "Great players are still here. I am convinced that next year there will be more titles. This Barca will still compete and keep making history with these players."


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