Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has mentioned he was too emotionally related to the Catalan membership to ship the sustained success demanded from him.
Xavi, who made 767 appearances for Barça as a participant, returned to the LaLiga facet in 2021 when he changed Ronald Koeman as supervisor.
He led Barça to a primary LaLiga title in 4 years in his first full season in cost in 2022-23, however he was sacked final summer season after a trophy-less marketing campaign.
“The membership was going by way of one of many worst intervals in its historical past [when I was appointed], probably even worse than the early 2000s,” Xavi mentioned in an interview with France Soccer.
“Expectations have been extraordinarily excessive compared to my historical past in teaching on the time. At instances, my deep emotional connection to the membership might have labored towards me.
“I used to be extra emotional than I ought to have been in sure moments, however this expertise has been a helpful lesson in studying for me.”
Xavi’s solely earlier expertise as a coach was at Qatari facet Al Sadd, who he managed for 2 years earlier than his return to Barça.
He inherited a workforce who have been ninth in LaLiga and led them to a second-placed end, earlier than profitable LaLiga and the Spanish Supercopa within the following season.
The previous Spain worldwide acknowledged he then made errors as issues unravelled in his closing season in cost, however mentioned he is additionally pleased with the children he introduced by way of throughout a tough interval.
“I admit that I made some errors in administration,” he added. “[Sergio] Busquets’ departure compelled us to rethink our enjoying fashion.
“I selected to play with a midfield that included three attacking gamers, but it surely wasn’t at all times the most suitable choice.
“Past trophies, I really feel proud that I trusted a brand new era of gamers: Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde … These gamers characterize the way forward for the membership.”
With that base of younger expertise in place, Barça have kicked on beneath new coach Hansi Flick this season.
They gained the Supercopa in January, are prime of LaLiga and are by way of to the spherical of 16 of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Xavi, in the meantime, is getting ready for a return to teaching.
His concept was at all times to take a sabbatical 12 months after leaving Barça, however he’s now able to take heed to gives and has lofty ambitions.
“I’ve nothing concrete on the desk,” he mentioned. “I’m open [to offers]. Why not coach one other workforce in LaLiga? I’m in search of an thrilling mission.
“I’ve the ambition to win trophies. I’ll take heed to completely different gives … I need to win the Champions League, the Euros, the World Cup.”
