Xavi Hernandez has officially become Barcelona coach. After meeting an agreement with the Qatari club, Al Sadd, Xavi is ready to leave, anchored back at Camp Nou, and is ready to bring change for Barca. Xavi is not a new face for Barca. His reputation as a Barca legend was one of the considerations behind the club’s decision.
Xavi comes from the club’s academy, La Masia and is considered one of the best alumni of La Masia. While in uniform in the Blaugrana senior team, Xavi managed to help Barca win 8 La Liga titles and 4 Lifa Champions trophies. A total of 24 years, Xavi was at Barca. After leaving Barca, Xavi had a career as a player in Qatar. He also left Barca as a Legend. This legendary status has been accompanied by Xavi’s quality since becoming Al Sadd’s coach.
In Qatar, Xavi developed a Tiki-taka style of play. Al Sadd also became a team that looks difficult to beat. Unmitigated, for two seasons training Al Sadd, Xavi managed to deliver him to 7 trophies. This success perhaps opened the eyes of Barca management. Actually, long before Ronald Koeman was appointed as coach, Xavi’s name was already seen as a strong candidate for Barca coach.
However, given the club’s situation of financial instability and the transition period following the election of a new president, Xavi seems reluctant to immediately land at Camp Nou. Xavi assessed that the situation was not a permanent climate to start a career as a Barca coach. The situation became different when Barca sacked Koeman from the coaching chair. Xavi is back to being one of the strong names among several coaches.
After various speculations, Barca and Xavi finally found an agreement. Status as a club legend, Xavi followed several club legends who became coaches. In fact, Xavi risked his status as a club legend. As a legend, Xavi became one of the idolized figures.
His qualities as a midfielder have become the prototype at Barca. No doubt, whenever Barca are looking for a new player who plays as a midfielder, Barca always compares him with the qualities possessed by Xavi. In addition to the quality factor, Xavi’s lifestyle also inspires. Not so glamorous because of popularity, Xavi is more concerned with his appearance on the gridiron.
In short, Xavi’s status as a club legend cannot be contested. However, his new job as Barca coach also put his reputation at risk. At this point, Xavi must be ready to accept criticism and criticism when the team he coached failed to show a satisfactory performance for the fans. Supporters may not care about Xavi’s status as a legend. They care more about his quality as a coach than the good memories of Xavi playing for Barca.
Xavi started a new path at Barca. Of course, the situation between Barca is very different from the Al Saad club in Qatar. The challenges are also more different. At Barca Xavi will be faced with various problems. One of them is how to restore the team’s spirit so that they can get back on the winning track.
Xavi’s coaching method and style, which is identified with the old style of Johan Cruffy and Pep Guardiola, has become a new hope for Barca. For a while, Xavi is seen as a new hope to restore the mentality of Barca. The most difficult challenge for Xavi is to get his team back on track. The reason, Xavi had to struggle with the existing players to be able to walk on the right path.
Interim coach Sergi got a reaction from the players when he made comments about the team’s condition. After being held to a draw by Alaves, Sergi stated that Barca only had existing players. The sign, from the side of the Barca squad is already lame and is seen as unable to compete at the highest level. In other words, the old problems that occurred during Ronald Koeman’s tenure could have occurred during Xavi’s time.
With this, Xavi faces a serious challenge in returning the team’s performance on the right track with the composition of the squad they have. Although Xavi has a preference for players at other clubs, it must be remembered that the club’s financial situation has been one of the stumbling blocks in the last two seasons.
The same thing could happen again under Xavi’s leadership. Xavi’s brilliant idea for team play must be balanced with the condition of the squad. Yes, as a club legend Xavi came as a new coach. Xavi became a new hope for Barca. Behind this hope, Xavi needs to realize that Barca’s condition is not at the best level.
Barca’s current condition is a serious challenge for Xavi in building Barca’s game. For now, Barca are in 9th position in Spanish La Liga and are not yet in a safe situation in the Champions League. Will Xavi succeed?
ASL
