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Tag: Xavi

  • Xavi opens up on Premier League ambitions

    Xavi opens up on Premier League ambitions

    Barcelona legend Xavi has revealed he would “love to work in the Premier League” after nearly a year without a job.

    It’s been nearly 12 months since the 45-year-old was dismissed by Barcelona, the club he spent 17-years at as a first-team player.

    His replacement, Hansi Flick, has gone on to turn the Catalan giants into one of the most exciting sides in Europe.

    Xavi has been linked with several big jobs, including Man United, since his dismissal, but he is yet to nail down a new position.

    In an interview with The Athletic, Xavi couldn’t hide his admiration for the Premier League and admitted he would love to manage in the English top tier.

    “Of course? Where, I don’t know,” the Spaniard said when quizzed about his future. “There’s no hurry for me, but I’d like a good project. Like, ‘You have four years to work and make a project’.

    “I’d love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion there. In Spain, it’s too much about the result.”

  • Xavi didn’t give me opportunities – Barca midfielder

    Xavi didn’t give me opportunities – Barca midfielder

    Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado has taken aim at former coach Xavi.

    Casado feels he was ignored by Xavi last season as he finds his place this term under coach Hansi Flick.

    He told 3cat: “I didn’t have too many opportunities, but that helped me to be stronger mentally.

    “Sometimes I saw that I could play, but I didn’t have the opportunity.

    “Despite this, I am very grateful to Xavi. He was the coach who made me debut with the first team, so I will always be grateful to him.”

    Casado added:  “I have taken a slightly longer road, but I think that this has helped me to be where I am now and has given me experience to know which stadiums are more complicated.”

  • Xavi sacking was not easy – Barca president, Laporta

    Xavi sacking was not easy – Barca president, Laporta

    Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revisited the sacking of Xavi last season.

    After first reversing his resignation decision last term, Xavi was sacked by Laporta before the end of the campaign.

    At Hansi Flick’s presentation today, Laporta stated: “I also want to refer to Xavi Hernández. The decision not to continue I have to tell you that it was not easy. I assure you.

    “Making a decision so it affects someone you appreciate and has written in gold letters the history of Barça is very hard.

    “As a Board of Directors and I as President Barça’s interests must be put before other situations. Barça as an institution is always above. We do not have the absolute truth, but we believed that it was time to make a change and give a new impulse, to make a change that obeyed the interests of Barça.

    “Barça is always ahead of private interests. I want to thank Xavi and his staff for the good work, they took Barça at a time of maximum difficulty. We won a historic League and a Super Cup, and a very clear bet was made for La Masia players, whose successes we see now.”

  • Flick does not have Barca DNA – Xavi’s mentor

    Flick does not have Barca DNA – Xavi’s mentor

    Xavi’s mentor, Joan Vila, a former Barca player and youth coach has taken aim at new Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.

    He said of Xavi: “He has been a coach very dear and desired by everyone, he came at a very difficult time and lived a difficult season in a club with very big financial problems. His has been a somewhat troubled stage, not adequate to what he should have had, a true legend.

    “Hopefully he can come back someday when Barça works better than it is working now.

    “I have spoken to him and he is hurt by this situation, because after retraining on both sides, it was a decision that surprised him. They had mutually decided that there would be continuity and then a unilateral decision was made.”

    On Flick, Vila also said: “I don’t know him, only his past at Bayern and that of the German team. I’m sure he’s a top-notch coach, but surely he is not Barça DNA, I would be surprised if he continued this idea because he has not lived it. It is also true that there are not many people who know him and have experienced him.

    “When I talk about Barça DNA, it’s what home players contribute, they carry it inside and it is difficult to transmit to the players who come from outside. This does not mean that you cannot play with this DNA, but it is another way of playing, training and thinking. Our idea is difficult, but I think it will not be carried out by the new coach.”

    In closing, Vilà acknowledged, “I have seen this idea born and grow. There were many unbelievers, but our idea is still valid, I have no doubt. But you have to work on it and train it a lot. A great coach said he did not want to have the ball because he did not want to lose it. It is acceptable, but it is not our idea or that of the vast majority of Barça fans.”

  • Barca exit is good for Xavi – Ancelotti

    Barca exit is good for Xavi – Ancelotti

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti feels Xavi will bounce back from his sacking by Barcelona.

    Xavi has already been replaced by Hansi Flick at Barca.

    Ancelotti said: “Barça has created its history thanks to a clear game identity with players of that profile like Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Busquets. The coach has to adapt to the players he has.

    “With what Barça had it was the most appropriate way to play football.

    “It’s part of a coach’s job, Xavi will understand. When there is not a good relationship between the club and the coach, the best thing is to separate. It happened to me with Napoli, Bayern and Chelsea. Separation is good for him to Barcelona and Xavi.”

  • I leave Barca with clear conscience – Xavi

    I leave Barca with clear conscience – Xavi

    Xavi says he leaves Barcelona with a “clear conscience”.

    Xavi was sacked by Barca president Joan Laporta on Friday.

    He said, “I’m fine. It’s been a difficult few days, but I have a clear conscience. I’m proud and happy. It’s been a good two and a half years. Today I was talking about it with the staff and the players that I think we can be proud, because it wasn’t an easy situation. We’ve given it our all. We’ve been club men and we’ve done a good job, although this year we haven’t met our objectives.

    “The experience has been spectacular and the learning tremendous. I want to finish in the best possible way and enjoy the last game as Barcelona coach, which has been an honour and a pleasure.”

    Xavi continued: “Yesterday I spoke with the president, he told me his reasons why he thinks the coach needs to be changed. I just have to accept it, he’s the one who makes all the decisions of the club. I will always be at Barcelona’s disposal. We shook hands, hugged each other and wished each other the best. I’ll be just another Barcelona fan and I wish the best for the president, the sporting director and the players.

    “They have decided this thinking because they believe they need a change of direction at the club. I was still motivated and had my ambition intact with this squad, but it wasn’t to be.”

  • I don’t want to give my opinion on Xavi – Ancelotti

    I don’t want to give my opinion on Xavi – Ancelotti

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has refused to comment on Xavi’s reaction to the match officials after El Classico clash.

    Barcelona twice blew the lead to lose 3-2 on Sunday, with Lamine Yamal having a goal disallowed by VAR.

    Real came from 2-1 down to win with Jude Bellingham scoring in injury-time.

    He said: “It’s a very big step towards winning LaLiga. We’ve got a big advantage, but we can’t lower our guard. We need to pick up a few more points and these games will help us prepare for the Champions League semi-finals.

    “Vinicius didn’t like coming off and wanted to keep going. The forwards have put in a huge effort, especially after the last game. We always ask the forwards to defend and work for the team. They’re the fastest, they try to attack deep and they use a lot of energy. I understand that he wanted to continue, but we had to bring fresh legs on.

    “Bellingham arrived at the right time. He put in a lot of hard work, a lot of effort and he hadn’t scored for a long time. He scored a goal today that could be crucial for the league.

    “I don’t want to give my opinion on what Xavi thinks because everybody has their own opinion. It was an even, competitive and hard-fought game. Barcelona had some good spells, just like us. We managed to win this game with the last bit of energy and that puts us in a good position in the table.

    “As always, there are some situations. The goal wasn’t given because there was no clear image to determine that the ball had gone in. The penalty for the foul on Lucas Vázquez seemed clear to me. I’ll concentrate on our performance because it was good as was Barcelona’s. They showed a lot of quality with their youngsters and the game was of a high standard.”

    Lucas Vázquez’s performance, he added: “He’s a very important player, not only for what he did today, but throughout the season. He’s playing at a very high level, he competes with Carvajal, who is one of the best full-backs in the world. He’s made a difference in other games as well. Carvajal could play today, but other players are doing very well this season, like Lucas and Modrić. They are helping us very much in situations like this after the heavy workload of Wednesday’s game.”

  • La Liga title hopes is over for us if… – Barca coach, Xavi

    La Liga title hopes is over for us if… – Barca coach, Xavi

    Barcelona coach Xavi rates today’s clash at Cadiz as a must-win.

    Barca face Cadiz on the back of the euphoria of victory at PSG.

    Xavi said: “They have only lost one game in the last five, they have beaten Atlético at home… They are playing well. Their football life is going in every sense, they are playing for the season. They come out well on the counterattack, they play directly… It will be difficult.

    “We are going to see how the team’s fatigue level is, but for us they are three vital games.

    “If we don’t win tomorrow, the La Liga is over for us. If we want to fight until the end for the League, we have to come out plugged in. If we fail tomorrow, the El Clasico will be of little use. Tomorrow is a transcendental day. I don’t think we need to motivate the players much more.

    “Next week there is a Clásico that, if we win tomorrow, could leave us five points behind. If we lose tomorrow, the La Liga is doomed.”

  • Barca players are with Xavi to death – Pedri

    Barca players are with Xavi to death – Pedri

    Pedri has said the Barcelona players are in full support with the club manager Xavi.

    He was thrilled with his role in Barcelona’s win at PSG.

    The midfielder jumped from the bench in the second-half and created Raphinha’s goal for 2-2 with his first pass. Barca eventually won their Champions League quarterfinal first-leg 2-3.

    Pedri said: “We have always been with the coach to death and as long as he is with us it will be yes, we hope it will be many days. He grew up at Barça and we try to defend the club like he did as a player. I hope you think again, Xavi, and stay for a long time.

    “It is one of the things we have improved. Before they marked us and we fell apart very quickly. Today it was not like that.

    “I always think that we are going to do our best and win every game. I didn’t imagine coming back like this in this game, but I’m very happy.”=

  • UCL: PSG favourite to win trophy despite their 3-2 loss – Xavi

    UCL: PSG favourite to win trophy despite their 3-2 loss – Xavi

    Despite leading Barcelona to defeat them at home,Xavi Hernandez, has insisted Paris Saint-Germain remain favourites to qualify for the semi-final of the Champions League.

    The Manager spoke after his side beat PSG 3-2 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.

    Raphinha grabbed a brace and substitute Andreas Christensen headed the winner, to give Barca the edge ahead of the second leg next week.

    PSG are still the favourites,” Xavi said in his postgame news conference.

    “I’m very proud, everything worked well. We have to improve our concentration in the first minutes of the second half.

    “We managed to mature and recover from a match that became very difficult.”

    Barcelona are seeking to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2019 following back-to-back group-stage exits.