Xavi Hernández

[El Flaco]

The 1st part of Xavi's interview with the 2022 World Cup organisers' website

On winning the Emir's cup

“We are very happy to be in the final, we will try to finish the season in the best way possible – by winning the Emir Cup. It would be the ideal way to finish the season with His Highness the Emir present, and as captain I would love to lift that trophy.”

“For the Qataris this is the most important competition and we are eager to win this final. We are playing a great team with very good players in Lekhwiya - they have beaten us twice this season and we have won once. It will be a difficult match, but we have trained well all week and I am looking forward to winning my first title in Qatar. We want to give our fans a moment of happiness because they deserve it.”

On the CdR-final between Barca vs. Sevilla

“Barcelona are the favourites in the final. Sevilla played a fantastic second half against Liverpool in the Europa Cup final and were much the better side. They have the experience of playing the big finals. Sevilla’s achievement is outstanding, but Barcelona are the best team in the world at the moment and I hope that they can win and achieve the double.”

On his past at Barca and the decision to move to Qatar

“Of course, I miss my former colleagues, the day-to-day and training sessions with the ‘rondo’ to start off with, the happiness of the dressing room. I spent many years there and, of course, I miss things. But I can say that it has been one of the best decisions of my life to come to Qatar. It is a fantastic country which has welcomed me and my family, and it is a great project here with Aspire and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In the coming years, I hope to give an even better performance. I am proud and very satisfied to be here.”

On Qatar's emerging in several sports

“Qatar is right now one of the capitals of sport in the world. They invest a lot in sport. It is not just football but every week you have top competitions here in athletics, chess, rugby, swimming and many other disciplines, all of which have been organised with great efficiency. Qatar wants to be known as a world capital of sport, and that is laudable.”

http://www.sc.qa/en/news/xavi-coming-to-qatar-one-of-the-best-decisions-of-my-life

 

[Richard.H]

One of Xavi's Greatest performances in a Barca shirt. Absolutely amazing in this match. Many people forget that he had great acceleration during the riijkard/early pep years.

 

[El Flaco]

The 2nd part of Xavi's interview with the 2022 World Cup organisers' website

On Pep Guardiola and his adventure in Manchester City

“It is a big opportunity for him at Manchester City. I think he will change the face of English footbal. If there is anyone capable of changing that mentality, it is Guardiola. It is a great opportunity but there will also be a lot of pressure, because everyone always expects a lot from Pep Guardiola. But he is without doubt one of the best coaches in the world at the moment.”

“Guardiola thinks about football all the time, he is obsessive in his attention to detail. We still talk regularly and discuss football.”

On the teams in Qatar

“There are many teams here in Qatar who have taken on the philosophy of Barcelona and the Spanish national team, or even now like the German team, they like to play an attacking style of football with domination of possession. A lot of coaches here are working in this style now. There are different styles in the league here but the coaches are well prepared, and the Qatar Stars League will continue improving.”

On Qatar's preparation for WC 2022

“I have seen a country with a total focus on construction, not only the stadiums but also the infrastructure. They are building a new metro system to make sure the traffic is not so dense. They are preparing very well on all these fronts, and they have time to solve any challenges they face. Qatar can host a fantastic and historic World Cup for football.”

On the criticism against Qatar

“My message is that people should come and see the country. People talk about Qatar without having been here. They have to come here and share time with the people, get to know the people – they are good people who put a lot of emphasis on sports. I have gotten to know people who decide things in Qatar and they are very noble, so I would say to the people who talk badly about Qatar to come here and see it.”

On Khalifa International Stadium

“Khalifa International Stadium will be spectacular. All of the stadiums will be marvelous and people will be surprised because the stadium designs are spectacular. People will enjoy this World Cup and in December the weather is great to really enjoy the country.”

On his favorite places in Qatar

“It is a fantastic country, very hospitable. You have different types of entertainment, great cuisine, leisure activities for different budgets. I like Katara cultural village, which is fantastic, the Pearl, where you can go for a nice walk. You also have the desert, where you can go for a safari, and Dukhan is nearby, where my daughter was born. It is a small country but a very welcoming one. My family and I feel very comfortable here.”

http://www.sc.qa/en/news/xavi-qatar-2022-pep-guardiola

 

[Yannik]

 

[El Flaco]

The 3rd part of Xavi's interview with the 2022 World Cup organisers' website

On the up-coming Champions League final between Atlético de Madrid vs. Real Madrid

"I believe that Atletico will take home the trophy,” said Xavi, in an interview with www.sc.qa in Qatar, as he looked ahead to the final in Milan between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. “I think this is the moment of Atletico. They also deserve it because of the work they are doing. Of course it is not the philosophy of play that I like the most, because they speculate and wait in defence, but I think it is the moment of Atletico Madrid. Football always gives you a second chance, and it is the same final as two years ago in Lisbon. Now we have the final in Milan and I think it is the time of Atletico Madrid.”

On Real Madrid having advantage in the CL-final

“The favourite in terms of history could be Real Madrid, as they have more experience in finals and these situations. So they have the edge in that regard. But I believe and think that it is the moment of Atletico Madrid.”

On players from both of the teams

"In Atletico Madrid’s team you have Koke, Saul, Griezmann, Fernando Torres, these are football players with natural talent who can change a match in a moment. At Real Madrid you have Kroos, Modric, Isco, James, Bale, Cristiano, Benzema, they are spectacular football players and we will see a fantastic final. I will watch it at home in Barcelona, and am looking forward to seeing that final.”

On eventually winning the Asian Champions League

“Why not in the future win an Asian Champions League with Al Sadd? It is very difficult, the Chinese and the Japanese compete, the Iranian sides, the Saudis and Emiratis. They are teams with a lot of history behind them and an economic level which is important, but why not Al Sadd in the future again?”

On the steady improvement in Asian football

“I think there is an important improvement in Asian football in the last few years, and it will keep growing because the economic side is strong and they can bring in football players of a high level. This has been shown in China with their investment in players. The Chinese push has surprised me, it is very strong and they are going above economic levels even of Europe. So I think Asian sides can compete in the future with European clubs at the FIFA Club World Cup.”

On his hunger for winning titles

“I never got tired of lifting trophies. I am competitive by nature and I like to win. I love to compete and I have had the luck to be in Barcelona for so many years and win a lot of trophies – in the Spanish national team as well with one of the best generations Spain has seen. We won so many titles and trophies, and I was privileged in that regard and I want to bring that level of competitiveness here to Qatar.”

http://www.sc.qa/en/news/xavi-champions-league-final-atletico-madrid-asian-game

 

[xXKonan]

According to Catalunya Radio, Xavi has decided to become a coach, when his playing career is done.

 

[UEFA_Barça_Chris]

One of Xavi's Greatest performances in a Barca shirt. Absolutely amazing in this match. Many people forget that he had great acceleration during the riijkard/early pep years.

breathtaking! terrible song selection though just had to say it

 

[Messi983]

According to Catalunya Radio, Xavi has decided to become a coach, when his playing career is done.

Not surprising. I think he decided about that years ago. I'm already looking forward to see him on Barça bench in 3 or 4 years.

 

[El Flaco]

 

[Aryagorn]

Not surprising. I think he decided about that years ago. I'm already looking forward to see him on Barça bench in 3 or 4 years.

I hope we won't have to bring in for at least another 5 years, not just him, any new manager

 

[Stric]

I think it's safe to say he'll coach Barca B before he coaches the first team.

 

[Messi983]

I hope we won't have to bring in for at least another 5 years, not just him, any new manager

I hope that too but don't believe Lucho will stay for more than 2 or 3 seasons.

I think it's safe to say he'll coach Barca B before he coaches the first team.

Yes, it would be probably good for him to start there to know some of the upcoming youngsters we could promote later to the first team as I expect him to give a lot more opportunities to La Masia players.

What I hope for him as a coach is that now in Qatar or wherever he'll be over the next few years before returning home he'll add some new knowledge of different systems/playing styles so he won't strictly stick to tiki-taka and will keep some of the good things that Lucho has implemented or just try something different to be more unpredictable. I know he's lived within that system for his whole life but it's hard to imagine he can be nearly as successfull as Pep without depending on 4 of the most perfect players for that style of play (himself, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi). When he takes over he'll probably just have aging Messi and Busquets of them.

 

[khaled_a_d]

I hope that too but don't believe Lucho will stay for more than 2 or 3 seasons.



Yes, it would be probably good for him to start there to know some of the upcoming youngsters we could promote later to the first team as I expect him to give a lot more opportunities to La Masia players.

What I hope for him as a coach is that now in Qatar or wherever he'll be over the next few years before returning home he'll add some new knowledge of different systems/playing styles so he won't strictly stick to tiki-taka and will keep some of the good things that Lucho has implemented or just try something different to be more unpredictable. I know he's lived within that system for his whole life but it's hard to imagine he can be nearly as successfull as Pep without depending on 4 of the most perfect players for that style of play (himself, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi). When he takes over he'll probably just have aging Messi and Busquets of them.

LVF,Rijkaard & Lucho were all successful coaches for Xavi who played different football than Pep.so we I won't say he lived all his life in that system. I think it will be more accurate if we say he lived his whole life with the same Barca philosophy but the systems changed many times

 

[El Flaco]

 

[AnfieldEd]

Xavi is the Welsh Joe Allen.