Xavi reveals Guardiola's key tactical shift in 6-2 Clasico victory LaLiga - Barcelona Messi's position swung the contest

Pep Guardiola's tactical acumen has been praised by former Barcelona captain Xavi and he highlighted it as the reason for the Catalans' memorable 6-2 Clasico win.

In one of the most one-sided derby games in recent memory, the Blaugrana were dominant in picking up a big win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in 2009.

It was the current Manchester City coach's deployment of Messi that day though which played the biggest part in the success, according to Xavi.

"That was the game that he played Messi as the false nine," recalled the former midfielder in an interview with the Daily Mail.

"He knew that Madrid's centre-backs wouldn't come out to press Messi when he dropped off so that meant Messi, myself and [Andres] Iniesta would always have a two against three in midfield.

"He kept telling us 'that's where the game is, that's where the game is!' and we won."

Xavi also looked back on Guardiola's early days at the Camp Nou, a time when many weren't so sure on the tactician but the midfielder revealed that he and his teammates never doubted the coach's abilities.

"The doubts were there when he started at Barcelona. I remember we started his first season with a defeat and a draw," the 2010 World Cup winner explained.

"But even in those early games I would say to my close friends and family, 'if you could only see the way we are training, we are going to win trophies'.

"Pep was a bit nervous! He was playing for his future, after all but things turned out perfectly because we won everything and it wasn't just that we won everything, it was the way we did it."