Barcelona were in a terrible mess under Ronald Koeman at the start of this season. Lionel Messi’s departure to PSG due to their financial troubles didn’t help them either. The team was on the verge of missing out on the Champions League places for the next season.
Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez took charge of the club in November 2021 in the middle of this season and since then he has worked wonders at Barcelona. He has brought back the Barcelona DNA in the team with crisp passing and possession-based football. The days of tiki-taka ruling the world have again started under Xavi’s reign.
According to Sport, the legendary Barcelona midfielder asked two questions to his players while taking charge of Barcelona.
Here are the first two questions Xavi Hernandez asked his players while taking charge of Barcelona
- Are you willing to run for the team?
- Are you willing to enter in the 92nd minute?
Xavi got positive answers from the whole Barcelona squad and it was a massive win for him as he got the full support of the dressing room behind him.
The first two questions of Xavi clearly point to the importance Xavi gives to sacrifice and discipline to achieve success as a football team. The Spaniard has been part of a world-class dressing room himself during his playing days at Camp Nou, so he understands what it takes to make become successful.
In these 5 months under Xavi’s tenure, Barcelona have leapfrogged to the second position in the La Liga table and have also handed a heavy 4-0 defeat to league leaders Real Madrid in the final El Clasico of this season. They are now set to finish in the top 4 places and earn a Champions League place next season.
Barcelona are also one of the favourites to win the UEFA Europa League this season. They drew against Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 in the first leg of the quarter-final tie. The second leg will take place at Camp Nou on Thursday as Barcelona hopes to win the competition.
