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Sam Marsden
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Moises Llorens
Mar 8, 2025, 07:33 AM ET
Former Barcelona trainer Xavi Hernández has stated he was once too emotionally attached to the Catalan membership to ship the sustained good fortune demanded from him.
Xavi, who made 767 appearances for Barça as a participant, returned to the LaLiga facet in 2021 when he changed Ronald Koeman as supervisor.
He led Barça to a primary LaLiga identify in 4 years in his first complete season in rate in 2022-23, however he was once sacked final summer time after a trophy-less marketing campaign.
“The membership was once going thru one of the most worst sessions in its historical past [when I was appointed], in all probability even worse than the early 2000s,” Xavi stated in an interview with France Soccer.
Xavi left Barcelona on the finish of the 2023-24 season after a tumultuous marketing campaign. Picture through Fran Santiago/Getty Pictures
“Expectancies had been extraordinarily top compared to my historical past in training on the time. From time to time, my deep emotional connection to the membership will have labored in opposition to me.
“I used to be extra emotional than I must were in sure moments, however this enjoy has been a treasured lesson in studying for me.”
Xavi’s handiest earlier enjoy as a trainer was once at Qatari facet Al Sadd, who he controlled for 2 years sooner than his go back to Barça.
He inherited a workforce who had been 9th in LaLiga and led them to a second-placed end, sooner than successful LaLiga and the Spanish Supercopa within the following season.
The previous Spain global stated he then made mistakes as issues unravelled in his ultimate season in rate, however stated he is additionally happy with the kids he introduced thru right through a troublesome duration.
“I admit that I made some errors in control,” he added. “[Sergio] Busquets’ departure pressured us to reconsider our taking part in taste.
“I selected to play with a midfield that incorporated 3 attacking avid gamers, nevertheless it wasn’t at all times the most suitable option.
“Past trophies, I believe proud that I relied on a brand new era of avid gamers: Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde … Those avid gamers constitute the way forward for the membership.”
With that base of younger skill in position, Barça have kicked on below new trainer Hansi Flick this season.
They gained the Supercopa in January, are best of LaLiga and are thru to the spherical of 16 of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Xavi, in the meantime, is making ready for a go back to training.
His thought was once at all times to take a sabbatical yr after leaving Barça, however he’s now able to hear provides and has lofty ambitions.
“I’ve not anything concrete at the desk,” he stated. “I’m open [to offers]. Why no longer trainer some other workforce in LaLiga? I’m in search of an exhilarating venture.
“I’ve the ambition to win trophies. I will be able to concentrate to other provides … I wish to win the Champions League, the Euros, the Global Cup.”
