Barcelona, Dec 25 (IANS): Barcelona mid-fielder Ivan Rakitic hopes to "go a step further" with this season's Champions League, after winning the Europa League last season while playing for Sevilla.

This is in line with his desire "to always improve", something that Xavi Hernández, a footballer who "has got it all", can help him with, reports marca.com.

"Emotions are difficult things to explain. You grow up wanting to win titles and last season I won the Europa League with Sevilla and I found out just what it meant to the fans and to the city," Rakitic said.

"There was a lot of emotion and now I want to go a step further with the Champions League."

The 26-year-old Rakitic now wants to win titles with Barçelona, alongside Xavi, who is his point of reference.

"Not just because he has won it all; it's also the way he plays, the way he inspires the team and leads us. Xavi has got it all and now I share a dressing room with him and with other players who are keen to win things, even though they've already won everything. It is a privilege, but I have come here to work hard and enjoy it all," he said.

Due to all this, he says that Xavi is an "example" to him.

"I know I still have a lot to learn and at Barcelona you can learn a lot. There are players who have won everything and I always want to improve," he concluded.