"If everything continues OK, I hope Xabi will be in full training by the last week of March," revealed Benitez. "He will be like a new, very important player for us. Maybe Xabi will be available for the second game of the quarterfinal. He is improving a lot. If he's back training with the rest of the squad by the end of the month, like we hope, he has a good chance.
"It will be good for the team spirit to have him back. Not only will it give the side a lift, it will also make those who are playing work even harder to stay in the team."