Xavi did his first small lap of honor through the Camp Nou.

Visibly moved, the new head coach of stumbling FC Barcelona kissed the crowd, waved, beamed and said what the fans wanted to hear: “Barca are the best club in the world.

We will work hard to win titles again. "

Around 25,000 fans flocked to the Camp Nou stadium to watch Xavi sign his coaching contract until the summer of 2024 in a chic black suit and white shirt.

"Xavi.

Xaavii.

Xaaaviii, "they called from the stands, waved their flags and held up his old jersey with the number six.

"It's a very emotional moment for me," said Xavi, who fans also associate with the good old days under Pep Guardiola.

"That gave me goose bumps."

Guardiola's former model student

Xavi played for Barca for 24 years, the former midfield genius won 25 titles, and the 41-year-old shaped an era with the famous Tiki-Taka football under Guardiola.

“I feel like I'm coming back home.

This is my home, ”said Xavi of his return to Al-Sadd after six years in Qatar (as a player and coach).

As the successor to the hapless Ronald Koeman, the 2010 world champion should or must lead Barca back to success.

And his way is clear.

“We want to have the ball, attack, create scoring opportunities.

It's the Barcelona DNA, "said Xavi, Guardiola's former model student:" I've learned a lot from all of my coaches.

Now is the moment when I have to help the players.

We will work hard.

I will demand a lot from my players. "

Xavi's introduction as a coach is tantamount to a moment of hope in the dreary everyday footballing life of the Catalans.

But with all the sentimentalities and great feelings, he was under no illusions.

Barca are "in a difficult position both athletically and economically," said Xavi, who will lead his first training session on Tuesday.

The club is plagued by 1.3 billion euros in debt, with a loss of 487 million euros last season.

In the league, Barca fell ten points behind arch rivals Real Madrid to ninth place, and in the Champions League, Bayern Munich's opponents are threatened with being out in the preliminary round for the first time in 21 years.

But Xavi brings back memories of the good old days in Barcelona, ​​when Barca toured Europe with dream football and won one title after another.

“I will give everything to make Barca work,” promised Xavi, who now has to moderate the post-Lionel Messi era: “Barca cannot afford a draw or a defeat.

We have to win every game. "He wrote to Messi," he congratulated me and we joked around.

He wished me all the best. "

Xavi made his debut after the international break on November 20 in the derby against Espanyol Barcelona.

A lot of problems await him, an insecure team, lots of injuries.

And yet: "It is a dream, it is a dream that will come true."