'Tiki-taka is Xavi's registered trademark'

January 11, 2014 • • min read

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Xavi has played a key role in Barcelona's dominance over recent years

Photo: Getty Images

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has credited midfield maestro Xavi as the main architect of the club's tiki-taka style of play.

The 33-year-old midfielder has helped the Blaugrana dominate both domestically and in Europe over recent years and Rosell believes their style of football is down to him.

Speaking after Xavi was presented with the Barça Jugadors award for fair play on Thursday, Rosell said:

Without Xavi, Barça's game wouldn't make sense. He is the architect of our style of play.

I have always said that Xavi, along with Andrés (Iniesta) and (Lionel) Messi, with help from (Sergio) Busquets, were the inventors of tiki-taka.

Tiki-taka is not a philosophy that Barça have had since its foundation. Tiki-taka was invented by these three, plus Busquets.

However, Rosell is unsure whether the Catalan giants can maintain their tiki-taka style of play when Xavi retires.