Xavi delighted for Koeman’s support as he urges Barca to improve

Xavi

revealed how grateful he is for supports from former

boss

Ronald Koeman

as he worked on his side for the battle against

.

Barca are sitting third in the

table, with one point separating them from second-placed Sevilla, who played one game more, and 15 behind the league leaders.

They have suffered three home losses for the second time in the history of the club. Koeman also backed Xavi on Thursday, insisting that he needs more support than he is receiving. The Spaniard helped Blaugrana move from ninth to third place since October.

Although Xavi appreciated Koeman’s support, he urged Barcelona to do better against Real Mallorca on Sunday.

"I'm not going to change the feelings that Ronald has. I wasn't there and I'm not going to give my opinion,"

he told reporters at a pre-match news conference on Saturday.

"I have tremendous respect and admiration for him. Everyone has to support Barca. I have the utmost respect for Ronald for the work and effort he made. Thank him, nothing more.

"We are here and I do feel the support of the club and of Barcelona in general. It seemed that we had hit the key, but suddenly there were three defeats in a row.

"Now we have to see to the coach, the players, show our faces."

Barcelona have not been defeated four times in a row at home in their history and Xavi is doing everything to avoid that.

"It is time to take a step forward,"

he added.

"You have to make more of a team than ever and bring out your personality. It's not because of a bad attitude.

"It's because of situations that have weighed us down. We have to improve. It's time to push it forward and bring out the personality. I have a winning team and that's the reality.

"You have to set challenges. Those who have the most desire will enter the Champions League. This is a club made to win titles. The second is the minimum required.

"On Monday we were angry, on Tuesday less and on Wednesday we were already working.

"It is a reality and you have to prepare yourself for that. You have to have faith to achieve the minimum objective."

Should Real Madrid avoid losing to Espanyol, they will be the champions.

"If they are champions, we will congratulate them,"

he said of Madrid.

"They have been better because this is a long competition and usually the one who deserves it wins. We will congratulate them and next year we will compete better."

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