Guardiola comparisons bad for me – Xavi
Robin Bairner
- 8 Nov 2021 07:29 CST
- 3 min read
New Barcelona head coach Xavi says that he does not want to be compared to mentor Pep Guardiola – at least for the moment.
A legendary player at Camp Nou, Xavi has returned to the club to take the managerial reins following the sacking of Ronald Koeman.
With the club ninth in the league, six points short of the Champions League places, he has an enormous task to fulfil.
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While Barca have whittled through head coaches in recent seasons, Xavi has already earned comparisons with Guardiola due to his career trajectory and the new boss is flattered by them.
“For me he is the best coach in the world and any comparison for me now is bad,” Xavi told the media. “To be compared to Guardiola means you are a success because of everything he has given to football and Barca. The results will tell us if we do it well or not, but for me, it would be a success if they compared me with him.”
Chanting his name pic.twitter.com/qnwtkjFJum
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 8, 2021
Xavi's Barca expectations
Meanwhile, Xavi has outlined what he expects of his Barcelona players.
“I’ve come with very clear ideas in terms of demands, regulations, hard work,” he said. “We will be judged by our results, but we will try to play well for the results to come.
“My idea as a coach is to help them. Barcelona is difficult. There are players that I’ve seen from the outside feel the pressure. We’re going to work with them on a personal and professional level. It’s about helping them and making a team.
“We want to be intense and aggressive when it comes to recovering the ball in the opposing half. We want to be a team that leaves its soul on the field.”
Xavi’s first match in charge of Barcelona will come after the international break with a La Liga clash with Espanyol at Camp Nou, following by fixtures against Benfica at home in the Champions League and Villarreal away in the league.
