When Ernesto Valverde was sacked in January, Xavi was touted as the favourite to replace him as the head coach. But Xavi refused the offer as he was then focused to guide his club Al Sadd to glory in the Qatar Cup final in January. It was his second trophy as a manager.
Xavi also showed that his commitment to Barcelona is so great that he was not willing to come in to cover patches. His goal was to arrive at the club when it has a consolidated and solid project across all levels, from the academy to the first team.
Xavi has now gone public that he now feels ready to return to Barcelona. He will coach them but also want his former teammates Carles Puyol and Jordi Cruyff by his side.
Xavi recently said in an interview with La Vanguardia magazine: “I am clear that I want to return to Barca. I am very excited. Now that I have seen myself coaching, I think I can contribute things to the players.
“But I made it clear to them that I saw myself in a project that started from scratch, and in which decision-making was mine.”
Xavi further added: “I would like to work together with people in whom I have confidence, with whom there is loyalty, and who are very valid people. There cannot be anyone toxic near the locker room.”
“We are talking about Carles Puyol, who was captain of Barca, and Jordi Cruyff, a very good businessman and with a lot of experience in the technical secretary. I am a team person; I don’t want to decide alone. Obviously I would like to be very in tune with everyone.
“In the locker room, there can be no negativity, nothing toxic. I would like to enter with people from my environment to form a good team.”
Xavi and Puyol played together in Barcelona for 15 years. Together they won six LaLiga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, three Champions Leagues, the UEFA Super Cup and two FIFA World Cup Cups.
The Camp Nou is probably going to witness the iconic duo in the dugout once again.
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