FC Barcelona News: 22 February 2012; Xavi Remains Focused on Playing Football, Cruyff Confident Pep Will Stay

Cruyff: Guardiola will not leave Barcelona in the lurch - Goal.com
Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff is confident that coach Pep Guardiola will not leave the club in the lurch at the end of the season. The successful trainer's current contract with the Blaugrana expires at the end of this season and has yet to make a decision about his future. Nevertheless, Cruyff expects Guardiola to reveal his plans for next campaign in the near future.

Barca fans show their love to try to keep Guardiola | Andy Mitten - Yahoo!
"Guardiola, Guardiola, Guardiola," they hollered from the sud o del nord. It didn't sound quite right, like the word had too many syllables. The usual chants of "Messi, Messi, Messi" or "Xavi, Xavi, Xavi" are easier on the tongue, but the Barça fans wanted — needed - to make their point to their brilliant coach. Needed to show him that they love him.

'I am still a footballer' - Xavi 'not thinking' of replacing Pep Guardiola as Barcelona coach - Goal.com
"Let me play," he told reporters at an event organised by Adidas in Barcelona on Tuesday. "I am not even thinking about it [coaching]. "I feel like a footballer, I don't even have a [coaching] badge. I want to keep playing for many more years, as long as my body can last." Nevertheless, Xavi believes Guardiola will end up staying at Barca in any case.

Barcelona's Xavi is the best player I played with, says Henrik Larsson - Goal.com
Former Barcelona attacker Henrik Larsson has stated that Spain international Xavi was the best player he played with during his active career. The Sweden legend had the talented playmaker as a team-mate during his spell at the Blaugranas from 2004 until 2006, and is full of praise for the 32-year-old midfielder.

Piqué: "This team can still keep going for many more years" | FC Barcelona
Speaking to Barça TV, Gerard Piqué has revealed much about current goings on at FC Barcelona. After thrashing Valencia in Sunday's league match, the centre back spoke about Barça's situation in that competition. "I think the difference in the league is excessive. We're playing great football. There have been a lot of points we have dropped in the last few minutes".

CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid | guardian.co.uk
Just when it seemed that Real Madrid's work in Russia was done, Pontus Wernbloom volleyed in a 93rd-minute goal for CSKA Moscow to secure an unlikely 1-1 scoreline in their Champions League last-16 first leg. When the shock subsides, José Mourinho may reflect that a score draw is not a bad result away from home.

Atletico Madrid's Diego faces four weeks out with muscle tear - Goal.com
The Brazilian midfielder was forced off in the second-half of his side's 1-1 draw against Sporting Gijon on Sunday and it was initially expected that he would only miss the upcoming Europa League clash against Lazio.However, further assessment of the injury has revealed a muscle tear in his right thigh, with an estimated recovery time of four weeks.