it's time for a fundamental rethink, thinking of the collective, the team as a hole. Gerrard can have Roy of the Rovers moments, which you hardly see from Xavi, but no, that doesn't make Xavi an average player in many systems or any lesser than Gerrard. For all the Istanbul glory moments, it's actually because of the way Gerrard played that cost the Scousers the first half vs Milan, and Didi Hamann had to be thrown in to restore the balance as a defensive midfielder. When was Gerrard's peak? Having someone like Mascherano and Alonso do the silent job behind, for him to charge around the pitch in typical English style.
With Xavi in a team, 95% of matches will be in control from end to end, and not having to result to those Hollywood moments to decide the result.
"Carrying the team on his own", this phrase is really annoying, no wonder an elegant English guy playing for United has suffered all the years