Xavi Hernandez reviewed his plan in the coming days with FC Barcelona, and confirmed from Doha Airport that he would not find it difficult to train his former teammates.
Xavi spoke to the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo at Doha airport moments before his departure this morning, Saturday, for Barcelona, and said, "We will do our best, we are Barcelona, we are in the best club in the world, and the best must always win, you cannot You win or you lose."
"We will try to make the players happy, we will have to work hard and with clear goals in order to win. I am very positive and we will have to work hard to make things go well."
Regarding the delay in announcing his appointment as coach of the Catalan club and the details of talks with his former club, Al-Sadd, Xavi said, "I am very happy, this is the biggest challenge in my career. Everyone did their part, and I am very grateful to Barcelona and their trust. They came to Doha, and there were negotiations to terminate "The contract and we have all done what was required of us. I am very optimistic and I am very excited because everything is going well."
🔵🔴 MD desde Qatar
✈ El nuevo técnico azulgrana emitió un mensaje ambicioso antes de partir desde Doha hacia Barcelona
🗣 "Trabajaremos a máximas, en el Barça se tiene que ganar, no se puede empatar ni perder, habrá que trabajar mucho"
✍ @EduPolo https://t.co/G5VJph9Rql
— Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) November 6, 2021
He admitted that the signing process for Barcelona "was difficult because it was necessary to terminate the contract with Al Sadd Club and conclude new contracts for all the technical staff that will accompany him."
And on his priorities in the next stage, Xavi confirmed that the first thing he wants to do is talk with the players, and said, "I need to talk to them to find out how they are. I've also gone through bad situations, it's not the best moment in the club's history but I want to clarify my thoughts and plans to work hard." And building a competitive team. I think it's a matter of teamwork and I'm looking forward to doing things well."
👋 Welcome home, Xavi!
💙❤️ Welcome and easy tread!
pic.twitter.com/fOivr2wPYP
- FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_ara) November 6, 2021
Xavi believes that coaching a number of his former teammates in the Catalan club, such as Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba, is a positive thing. I know how they train, I know how they are, and they are the leaders of the team. I consider that an advantage."
Xavi will not travel to Vigo to watch the team's match today against Celta Vigo in the Spanish League, but he will be keen to follow it on television to evaluate the team before officially taking over his position and presenting it to the media on Monday.
Barcelona announced early on Saturday the contract with Xavi, 42, until 2024, to succeed Dutchman Ronald Koeman.
The former coach of Al Sadd played 767 games during 17 years with the Catalan club, and is the second most played player in the club's history after Lionel Messi and won 25 titles, most notably the Spanish League 8 times and the Champions League 4 times.
Barcelona is ninth in the league, 9 points behind Real Sociedad, the leader, and 8 points from rivals Real Madrid, who won the summit meeting between the two giants 2-1 last month.
In the Champions League, Barcelona is second in its group behind Bayern Munich with 6 points after the first 4 rounds, despite losing in the first two matches.