Barca pay price for poor work ethic, says Xavi

MADRID, May 19 (Reuters) A failure to appreciate the importance of hard work and a lack of team spirit has handed Barcelona's rivals the chance of depriving them of the league title, according to midfielder Xavi.

''We have spent the season thinking that we could win games just because of our name and it isn't like that. It's true we've messed up,'' Xavi told sports daily Marca today.

''I don't think it's that we were 'cocky', but I think we believed we could win games without working hard. In terms of quality we are better than most teams, but if you don't work hard then anyone can beat you.'' After leading the Primera Liga for most of the season, Barcelona were knocked off top spot by arch-rivals Real Madrid with four games left to play after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Real Betis last weekend.

''If we hadn't made so many mistakes we would already be celebrating winning the title, but we've given our rivals (Real) hope and they are now up there without having played great football.'' Xavi admitted that comments by some players earlier in the season had not helped the unity of the squad and singled out Samuel Eto'o's outburst against coach Frank Rijkaard as an example of problems the team could have done without.

''There have been some statements that haven't helped us much... What Samuel (Eto'o) said for example. That gave the press plenty to talk about and since then they have been looking for problems.'' Barca have won the last two Spanish league titles and also won the Champions League last year, but they have failed to maintain the same level this season.

They were trounced in the European Super Cup by fellow Spaniards Sevilla, lost to Internacional in the final of the World Club Championship and were humiliated by Getafe in the King's Cup.

However, Xavi said that the team's slip ups did not mean that they were now finished.

''I refuse to believe that we have ended a cycle and that we can't recapture our form,'' he said.

''The foundations of the team are still very strong... I'm optimistic that we can still win the league, if not I'd give up and go home now. Let's see how Real Madrid cope with being leaders.'' Barca play their bogey team Atletico Madrid at the Calderon tomorrow, while Real are away at Recreativo Huelva.

Reuters AKD VV1931