England is a nation of warriors according to Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez.

In an extensive interview with the Daily Mail, the World Cup-winner spoke highly of English football and says the style of the game in the UK has changed although the fervor and passion of the fans has certainly remained as it always was.

"You are a nation of warriors," he said. "If I go to Liverpool's ground and someone puts the ball into the area and (Jamie) Carragher hammers it out of play then the fans applaud. In the Nou Camp you would never be applauded for that.

"It's a different culture that values different things. Here if they see you are afraid when you are in possession then you get whistled. It's the world in reverse.

"I do see it changing slightly. Before, the typical No 9 in England was a Crouch or a Heskey and it was a long ball from the back from a Terry or a Carragher and nothing in between."

And he added that he feels he would have enjoyed playing in the Premier League if he ever did leave Spain in his younger days.

"I have never seen anything like the supporters there," he added. "We won 3-1 at Liverpool once and we were applauded off the pitch, and Liverpool were as well.

"All the players who go to England to play come back saying wonderful things about it, the fans, the people. I think I would have liked it."