Xavi: Barcelona are the best club, and the best club needs to win
Martin Macdonald
- 6 Nov 2021 11:23 GMT
- 4 min read
Xavi insists Barcelona are a club that needs to win every game and that draws and losses are not acceptable, as he reacts to being confirmed as head coach of the Blaugrana.
Following the tumultuous tenure of Ronald Koeman, Barcelona have turned to Xavi to turn their season around.
The club are going through one of the toughest periods in their entire history, with performances on the pitch not good enough and major financial instability impacting business off the pitch.
Xavi is one of the most famous players in the club's illustrious history, winning eight La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and eventually becoming captain.
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He was confirmed as Barcelona's new head coach on Saturday morning after previously being in charge at Qatar side Al Sadd.
Xavi knows the challenge he faces is an enormous one.
"We will work to the maximum," he told reporters at Doha airport.
"In the end we are Barca, we are in the best club in the world and the best club in the world has to win, you cannot tie or lose.
"Therefore, maximum requirement. We will try to make the players happy and happy. We will have to work hard and with clear objectives of trying to win, it is clear. I am very positive and we will have to work hard to make things work out.
"I'm very happy, imagine, it's the biggest challenge of my career, a major challenge, I'm going home to Barca and I am very happy.
"Everyone has done their part, especially the club, I am very grateful to Barça and their trust. They have come to Doha, there was a contract termination and we have all done our part.
"I am very positive and I am very excited for everything to go well. I am very grateful to the club, really."
Xavi's message to the Barcelona players
Though Xavi has experienced massive success at Barcelona, he has also experienced tougher times, and he hopes to use both to try and bond with his new players.
"In the end I have also experienced bad situations, it is not the best moment in the history of the club but I want to explain what my idea is.," he continued.
𝑀𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 X6VI pic.twitter.com/r7Z4Y4fB0L
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 6, 2021
"And, work hard, make a team. I think it is a matter of teamwork and I am looking forward to do things well. But obviously, I need to talk to them to see how they are."
The World Cup winner is also looking to rely on some of his former team-mates who are still players at Camp Nou - Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
"I see it as an advantage, it has already happened to me at Al Sadd," he explained.
"I know five players very well because they were teammates and I see it as a positive point because I know how they train, I know how they are, and they are the team captains. I see it as an advantage."
Current caretaker coach Sergi Barjuan will be in charge for this weekend's fixture against Celta.
