Xavi urges Guardiola to extend stay at Barcelona

(GETTY IMAGES)

the Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola should agree a contract extension that would keep him with the Spanish and European champions beyond this season, midfielder Xavi said yesterday.

Guardiola has yet to commit to a new deal and president Joan Laporta said on Monday the La Liga club were resigned to rivals trying to lure away the 39-year-old, who led Barça to an unprecedented six trophies in 2009.

"I can't imagine Barça without Guardiola," said Spain international Xavi. "He is a fundamental cog in this machine and I think his contract renewal is imminent," he added.

Laporta has said Guardiola should decide by the beginning of April whether he plans to stay on and that he also wants the sporting director Txiki Begiristain to agree a new deal.

"I believe [Guardiola] wants to continue and that he is content here, that he feels important within the club," Xavi said. "To me he looks like he is enjoying the work with the same enthusiasm as the first day," he added.

Seville midfielder Aldo Duscher believes his side now have the "responsibility" of going all the way in the Spanish Cup after eliminating Barcelona in the last round. Duscher travels to former team Deportivo la Coruña in the first leg of the quarter-finals tonight. "After knocking out a great team like Barça, it's clear that now we have the responsibility to go as far as possible," said Duscher. "We have to fight to the death against Deportivo, believing in ourselves."