Xavi hits back at Grande

Xavi has hit back at Spain assistant Toni Grande, after the Coach intermated that the veteran pressured Vicente Del Bosque into certain selections.

The Roja assistant claimed in an interview earlier this month that the Blaugrana midfielder would tell the boss which players to pick for the national team.

But the player himself has insisted that is not the case.

“I understand that the press have to do their job and they have a habit of making problems out of nothing,” he told Cuatro.

“I have never even considered fielding one player instead of another never mind telling the coach what to do – it’s unthinkable.

“That’s something which I have never done in my career as a professional and something which I am never going to do in my life. I am always only interested about what’s best for the team.

“If the Coach asks me about something, I’ll reply. We chat about what’s best for the side in terms of strategy, tactics… to make the team better and stronger but never saying that one player should play in another’s place.

“Yes [Toni and I] have spoken about it. He even said he was sorry but I told him that there’s no problem.”