Xavi talks Flick, Lamine, Cubarsi, Pedri, De Jong, Barcelona – ‘It’s different for Hansi…’ | OneFootball

Xavi Hernandez returned to FC Barcelona as manager in 2021, taking over the reins of the club at a difficult time when finances were poor and the team was in a disappointing state.

The former midfielder and club legend managed to lead the Blaugrana to the La Liga crown in 2022/23 but failure to follow that up in the next season led to his sacking.

Since his departure, there has been talk of tension between the club administration and Xavi given how his exit was handled.

However, in a recent interview with The Athletic, the Barcelona icon stated that he bears no ill will towards anyone at the club and is very happy with how things are progressing under his successor Hansi Flick.

Love for Barcelona continues

Talking about how his entire family loves Barcelona and follows them closely, be it the men’s senior team or the Femeni, Xavi said:

“My son loves Lamine Yamal and Pedri. He loves Barca. Our daughter is nine. She loves (Robert) Lewandoski and Raphinha. We are a Barca family. If the team play, we watch the men and the women’s team. The kids collect the stickers for both men and women.”

On how he sees things after his removal from the manager’s post last year, the former manager noted:

“We’re happy that Barca is doing so well. Many people think that I wouldn’t be happy because I’m not there anymore. But I’m very happy that the team and Hansi Flick is doing well.”

Xavi gave Lamine Yamal his Barcelona debut. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

After taking over as manager, Flick held a meeting with Xavi a few months into his tenure. Divulging details of their interaction, the former midfielder said:

“We have a very good team that is only going to get better because it’s so young. Hansi came here to see me here and we spoke for two hours.

“We have a good relationship and he said, ‘Thank you so much. What you helped create here means I’m happy. The players train hard and they get some of their mentality from you.'”

Regarding the negative perception propagated in the media about the relationship between him and the club, Xavi remarked:

“And then you have what the media and the board members say. It can be difficult in Barcelona. That if you say something positive about the current coach then that’s negative to the former coach — me. It doesn’t need to be like that.

“I have a good relationship and respect for Hansi and his players, just as I had for Ronald Koeman before me. Koeman should be credited for bringing in Gavi, (Alejandro) Balde and other young players, which I benefited from, and he won the Copa del Rey.”

Expressing his pride at handing first-team debuts to Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, he added: “But if you ask if I’m happy and proud to have given debuts to Lamine and (Pau) Cubarsi, of course I am. Lamine is a genius. He will become the best.”

On being asked to name the players he likes to watch, Xavi replied: “Pedri. He doesn’t lose the ball. He makes the best decisions each time when he has the ball. He always takes the best option.”

Xavi loves watching Pedri play. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“Frenkie (de Jong) is in a good moment, this guy Vitinha. I always focus on midfielders,” he added, before naming Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes as another player he admires.

Reflection on Barcelona tenure

Reflecting on his stint at Barcelona, he said: “I’m proud that as Barcelona coach we played against the best coaches. I didn’t play against Guardiola, apart from one friendly.

“Normally after the game I spoke to the coaches. It’s relaxed but the coaches tell you how they are suffering. Many coaches suffer. I am ready to suffer again but I don’t think I will suffer any more than I suffered at Barça.”

Talking about the pressure that comes with managing a club of Barcelona’s stature, he noted:

“You need time. Even now, Barcelona is in construction. I was criticised when I said that when I was coach, but Lamine in 17. Cubarsi is 18. Pedri is 22, Gavi 20, Balde 21. But if you don’t win something for a season then people panic.”

Explaining why it got hard for him at Barcelona, Xavi added: “It was too emotional for me because I was a supporter too.”

“You feel your energy going down because you and your family are from here. If we go somewhere else, I said to my staff: ‘We will win with commitment and passion’.”

Xavi also revealed the advice that he gave Flick based on his own experience, saying: “It’s different for Hansi. He’s not speaking Spanish; he’s not a Barcelona supporter.

“I said to him: ‘Don’t follow anything in the media or you will go crazy. Just concentrate on the team because if you are from here you suffer a lot.’”