Xavi Hernández

[CatalinR10]

He can't go, he is in new kit photo...

so was thiago

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Its not dumb to get rid of someone who is in denial (assuming he won't accept a reduced role) it's the right thing to do. Xavi is a club legend but he is not bigger than the club and if Lucho feels he needs less playing time then he needs to deal with it or leave. I'm tired of the entitlement of senior players these days. Hope it stops immediately.

 

[Sumlit]

Would that surprise you? Lucho retired from international football with 32 to make room for youngsters. At Roma the first thing he did was bench Totti. Based on age and nothing else. There won't be an important role for Xavi in the team under Lucho. His first press conference already kinda gave it away: "We have to sit down and talk what he wants [playing] and what we want [not playing]." This shouldn't come as a surprise.

And yes, it is dumb, but not surprising.

Well Xavi needs to accept a lesser role. Him leaving will be a huge blow to the team, with losing Valdes, Puyol and Xavi in the same window along with all the changes incoming, but he must understand that he cannot be a starter anymore. He just doesn't have the legs for it, nor the health. He needs to put his ego a little to the side and realize he's not a young man anymore, footballing wise of course.

Though I do have some concerns with Lucho's approach towards stars. This ironhand dictator approach might get results with journeymen type of players and youngsters, but he's going to create a lot of trouble with star players. Star players require smarter handling.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

What's the alternative being soft like Tata and rolling over for players like Xavi who want to tell the coach what to do? You can't have it both ways Sumlit.

 

[DonAndres]

Well Xavi needs to accept a lesser role. Him leaving will be a huge blow to the team, with losing Valdes, Puyol and Xavi in the same window along with all the changes incoming, but he must understand that he cannot be a starter anymore. He just doesn't have the legs for it, nor the health. He needs to put his ego a little to the side and realize he's not a young man anymore, footballing wise of course.

Though I do have some concerns with Lucho's approach towards stars. This ironhand dictator approach might get results with journeymen type of players and youngsters, but he's going to create a lot of trouble with star players. Star players require smarter handling.

I agree but the thing is that most of these rumors give it the picture that Xavi wants out and dislikes Lucho. Things have been said about him not liking Lucho back from their days as teammates and all that.

Lucho has repeated that they'll sit down and talk, which is 99% going to be about playing time handling. There's no way that Lucho will tell Xavi it's bench or GTFO. If Xavi himself wants to leave because of that, it's quite an inflated ego he's carrying. Getting rid of him would screw us over but he is making things difficult.

 

[Sumlit]

What's the alternative being soft like Tata and rolling over for players like Xavi who want to tell the coach what to do? You can't have it both ways Sumlit.

There aren't just two ways Pepe Silvia. There are more ways to handle players than just the soft pushover or the ironhand dictator.

You need to be smart in the way which you demand competitiveness and hard work from star players. These are not journeymen who are happy to be there, nor are they youngsters who are docile and looking to learn. Star players have been there, done that and already earned their keep. You have to handle them with brains. You have to use their own ego to motivate them, not confront them and humiliate them, that's has disaster written all over it.

I agree but the thing is that most of these rumors give it the picture that Xavi wants out and dislikes Lucho. Things have been said about him not liking Lucho back from their days as teammates and all that.

Lucho has repeated that they'll sit down and talk, which is 99% going to be about playing time handling. There's no way that Lucho will tell Xavi it's bench or GTFO. If Xavi himself wants to leave because of that, it's quite an inflated ego he's carrying. Getting rid of him would screw us over but he is making things difficult.

Yes, I agree. It's a tough situation.

 

[spark]

35 in January. Wont be missed.

 

[DonAK]

If Xavi leaves and we intend to sell Cesc then how are we gonna do that? We won't be able to sign quality players to replace them.

 

[Galning]

What if he doesnt want a reduced role though? Do you keep him as the main man in midfield?

Who says he doesn't want a reduced role?

 

[darthvader7888]

Who says he doesn't want a reduced role?

Well, if he wants to leave, the most likely reason is that Enrique wants to give him a reduced role, while he doesn't want one. It's not like he doesn't have an ego.

 

[JamDav1982]

Who says he doesn't want a reduced role?

I am asking you IF he doesnt want a reduced role would you keep him.

Hypothetically.

 

[CatalinR10]

If we really want to sell Xavi and Cesc , we should first buy their replacements . If we sell them now , their replacements would cost us at least 20% more than they do now because clubs will knows we desperatelly need those players.

 

[Ode to Django]

Now that really would be end of an era

 

[darthvader7888]

The era ended with the 7-0 loss to Bayern.

 

[ebieymjunior]

I am asking you IF he doesnt want a reduced role would you keep him.

Hypothetically.

I think he could start and gradually get less and less minutes while his replacement and Roberto get the most towards the middle of the season.