Xavi will be Barcelona coach for years - Laporta
FT Desk
- 8 Mar 2022 06:15 CST
- 3 min read
Joan Laporta has hailed the impact of Barcelona manager Xavi since his return to the club.
The former midfielder took over the job in the dugout in November following the sacking of Ronald Koeman.
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At the time, Barca were languishing near the middle of La Liga and looked unlikely to even qualify for the Champions League.
But Xavi has masterminded a brilliant run of form and some exhilarating football in 2022.
Barca have not only won their last three league games on the bounce but have actually picked up more points in their last 10 La Liga matches than any other team in Spain.
What did Laporta say?
“I would have done it before,” Barcelona president Laporta told Barca TV.
“It's clear to me. I should have listened to my intuition but in life you can't listen to intuitions.
“You have to take into account many situations. I'm sure no decision is perfect but I made another decision according to other circumstances. And in the end the decision was good because we have improved.
“I was sure that one day he would be the coach and hopefully he would be the president with me.
“Xavi is responding amply, magnificently well. He knows the club, he loves it, he respects decisions, he has personality so as not to be influenced, he is very clear about how we should play and he is a worker.
“He is sick of football and that makes him live with what Barca is and everything that surrounds the team. I am very satisfied to have a coach like him, for many years. I am convinced that he will give us many joys.”
The current Barcelona team have been compared in terms of style of play with the legendary side managed by Pep Guardiola in which Xavi was a key player.
Barca are also favourites to win the Europa League after thrashing Napoli at the Stadio Diego Maradona two weeks ago.
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