Xavi is like a Chess player, says Giggs

Thegoalmac can reveal that Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs has voiced his admiration for Barcelona midfielder Xavi and has compared him to a chess player for his quick thinking.

Xavi is a legend and his ability to control the midfield is just a beauty to watch. For me, his old age is one of the main reason Barcelona has been struggling for some seasons now. Read on for what Giggs said after the cut.

"It is never nice to lose a record, but the fact that I'm now sharing it with someone of Xavi's calibre makes it a bit less bad," Giggs told Mundo Deportivo.

"Xavi is a bit like a chess player. He is always two or three steps ahead of everybody else. For me, he is one of the greatest players ever who played for one of the best teams ever.

"What surprised me most about him whenever I played against him was the way he protects the ball. He always keeps it far away from his opponents. He always seemed to make the perfect decision.

"He is a very intelligent player and always remains humble. He reminds me a bit of Paul Scholes."

Xavi has made the most appearances in the Champions League without qualifying rounds since the new format was introduced back in 1992.

He has played 145 matches, one more than Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.