Barcelona Also previewed the Clasico

Barcelona were dealt a tough blow last summer as Neymar made a shock switch to Paris Saint-Germain, but Ivan Rakitic believes they have coped with his absence well and that they play like more of a team now.

Calling Neymar one of the sport's best players, he pointed out that an XI full of stars wouldn't always work.

"He is one of the best players in the world, but sometimes the best players in the world don't make the best team," he said to Croatian publication Sportske Novosti.

"We have overcome his departure with collective work.

"We have worked as hard as possible and have been able to win."

Speaking about the Clasico on December 23, Rakitic joked that a loss might ruin Christmas.

"One of the two teams will have a sad Christmas," he said.

"I'm joking.

"It will be great game once again and I'm sure we have a chance of winning it.

"Winning would be a nice way to finish off the year."

As for Barcelona's other big date in the diary, their Champions League last 16 clash with Chelsea, the midfielder spoke of how good the English champions are.

"It will be a great tie, like some of the others that have come up," he said.

"There's uncertainty because it's a long way away, but we'll have to prepare for it really well.

"We'll work game by game, hoping to win each of them."

First for Rakitic and for Barcelona is this Sunday's home match against Deportivo La Coruna.