Xavi broke his silence on his management government in Barcelona, 10 months after he was relieved of his duties by club president Joan Laporta.
After a 22-year-old gaming career, 18 of which were spent with the Catalan giants, Xavi hung up his boots and started coaching.
He started his journey on the Qatari side Al Sadd, where he spent the last four seasons of his career before he took the governments in Barcelona in November 2021.
Xavi spent three years in his boys' club and at that time won two awards – Laliga and the Spanish Super Cup in 2022-23. The following season did not have the same fruit for Barca, which ended 10 points behind Laliga champions Real Madrid.
Xavi announced in January 2024 that he would leave the club at the end of the campaign. Then, in a shocking change of heart, he turned his decision and decided in April that he would stay, to be fired a month later.
The legendary midfielder is now open on his tumultuous time in Barcelona, so that he has chosen the only decision that he is the most 'proud of', while also revealed how the fortunes derailed from his part in the direction of the latest phases of his management ownership.
The 45 -year -old told France Football: 'Looking back, our balance – including my coaching staff – is very positive, because the club was in one of the worst situations in its history, even worse than in the early 2000s.
'Tactical, [Sergio] The departure of Busquets forced us to reconsider our game. I then opted for a midfield with three attacking players, who do not always wear fruit.
'Beyond the titles I am proud that I have placed my confidence in a new generation, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Bald. These young people embody the future of the club. '
Xavi also noted that the departure of Barcelona's director football, Mateu Alemany, and their sports director, Jordi Cruyff, was part of the reason why his party was struggling in his last season in the club. Both men left Barca at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
He added: 'My first year and a half at Barça was very, very good. We had a good project with Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff, so we could finish second in LaLiga, before we won it in 2023, as well as the Spanish Super Cup.
'Then the results were less good. The departure of Jordi and Mateu was a hard blow. '
Despite his up and down management manager, Xavi clarified that he has fulfilled his dreams in Barcelona and is grateful for the success he enjoyed in football.
'I am privileged, I have surpassed my children's dreams. Wherever I go in the world, people remember me from my time in Barça, the national team and the world champion title, “he said.
Since leaving Barcelona, Xavi has not had a job in the last 10 months, but came closest to the management when the entourage of Man United flew to Spain to hold conversations with him about replacing Erik ten Hag.
Although these negotiations were not successful, Xavi has previously made his wish to manage in the Premier League.
“I would be very happy to work there,” the four-time Champions League winner once told The Times.
'Everyone tells me that the Premier League is great, a great competition to work in. First of all, for the passion with how they live the game. How they treat and respect you, the atmosphere and the stadiums.
“So why not? I saw myself in England, sure, it is one of the things I want to experience in my career. '
Comments