Recently announcing his retirement at the end of this season ahead of a move into coaching, Xavi Hernández still has a long way to go before he will be ready to lead the elite.
But with expectations in Barcelona huge, does he already have a thankless task ahead of him?
4
Barcelona’s midfielder Xavi Hernandez celebrates one of many titles he won at the Camp Nou
Xavi has slowly been winding down his playing career for four years, but with the confirmation that he will hang up his boots for good at the end of this season, there is already an expectation that his coaching career will start at breakneck speed.
The midfielder, who was the embodiment of Barcelona’s all-conquering style that peaked under Pep Guardiola, has in his absence from Catalonia been elevated to the status of a deity-like saviour figure who will return to the Camp Nou and orchestrate a new era of all-passing, all-conquering brilliance. All before he has done any real coaching of note.
The expectations are far greater than anything Pep Guardiola was faced with when he took over as Barcelona coach in 2008. If anything, a vocal proportion of onlookers expected that decision to put a relatively inexperienced coach in charge of the tricky post-Frank Rijkaard transition at the Camp Nou to end in failure. There was certainly nothing like the kind of widespread assumed brilliance that has already been attached to Xavi and his forthcoming coaching career.
LATEST FOOTBALL STORIES
And even if Guardiola was hardly a seasoned veteran when he took charge of Barça’s seniors, nor was it true that he dived straight into the deep end. First, there was the five months he spent in Mexico with Juanma Lillo at Dorados de Sinaloa. Though in principle signed as a player, injuries kept Guardiola out of action for long stretches, and he spent more of his time in Mexico instructing younger teammates on their positioning after training sessions, detailing Lillo’s drills in his notebook, and providing information about opponents for the manager.
Then there was his year with Barça B, grafting in the Spanish lower leagues.
4
Pep Guardiola was allowed to work his way up to managing Barcelona’s first-team
It was there that he had his first experience of chasing a trophy as a coach (a successful chase, winning the fourth division). That season out of the spotlight allowed Pep to put into practice the concepts he had learned from Lillo, old mentor Johan Cruyff, and Marcelo Bielsa. It also allowed him time to refine ideas, and equally important, time to make mistakes that is not afforded at a senior side.
Expecting Xavi to take charge of the Blaugrana without a similar easing-in experience would be a mistake. The midfielder, who is no fool, is well aware of that too. Speaking to Catalunya Radio’s Ricard Torquemada last year, the Catalan outlined a less demanding beginning in the coaching world.
“I’d like to start coaching here in Qatar. I think it’s an ideal environment to get experience, test myself, organise staff. Then other things will come after that. Starting here would give me more security, in the short-term I think my first step as a coach will be here.â€
4
Prying eyes will be scrutinising how much Xavi learnt from Guardiola.
And though he seems to have the right idea about a gradual learning experience, there is one red flag regarding Xavi’s potential as a coach that shouldn’t be overlooked. The playmaker has made no secret of the kind of football he wants his teams to play – even the press release confirming his retirement referred to the influence of Cruyff and La Masia – and that has only furthered the appetite to see him back in Barcelona.
But in contrast to Guardiola, who rarely criticises the style or approach of other teams, Xavi has a habit of straying into the territory of dogma, which doesn’t bode well.
In interviews the midfielder frequently criticises sides who play less proactive football, going as far as to call them boring. “Teams that play 4-5-1 bore me, teams who don’t want the ball. It’s useful to see things I’m not going to do when I’m a coach,†he said in November.
4
Al-Sadd’s Xavi Hernandez vies for the ball with Al-Ahli’s Claudemir
It’s a far cry from Guardiola congratulating Bristol City boss Lee Johnson after Man City’s Carabao Cup semi-final in 2018 for example, when he noted that the opposition may have played “with long balls†but that they nonetheless “came here trying to playâ€.
Guardiola’s open-mindedness and willing to learn from a variety of coaches and styles has kept him on the top for all of these years and allowed his sides to evolve. It’s far from clear that Xavi possesses that same willingness to learn and adapt.
We will only find out for sure once he starts to try and put his ideas into practice, and there is no guarantee he will be good enough to do that at Barcelona – despite the huge hype over his potential.
Chelsea became the first team to win a major European title without losing a game during the campaign (W12 D3 L0) since Manchester United won the Champions League in 2007-08 without losing a game.
The teams: Chelsea v Eintracht Frankfurt | Official Site
West Ham. have completed their early signing of the summer after agreeing a two-year deal with Roberto.. The experienced Spanish goalkeeper will join the Hammers on July 1, after his contract with Espanyol expires and the east London outfit have the option to extend the deal for a further 12 months.
West Ham transfer news: Hammers sign Spanish goalkeeper
Inter Milan have appointed former Juventus and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, the club announced on Friday. Conte's replaces Luciano Spalletti, who was sacked after two seasons with the club. The
Shay Given ignores Mohamed Salah goal vs Chelsea to continue eating his steak dinner. Hammers emerge as surprise contenders to sign Arsenal and Tottenham target Ivan
David Squires on … the Premier League's game of thrones
Ex-Manchester United star Lee Sharpe urges club to sign Chelsea ace N'Golo Kante, but ditch Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic ⚽️ https: Romelu Lukaku;
~ Worcester 6-32 Northampton: Saints beat poor Warriors to
How Lionel Messi's record against Premier League 'Big Six
Chelsea transfer news LIVE! Eden Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi latest - targets, gossip and rumours Chelsea look certain to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, but if the Blues were to firm up
Ex-Chelsea defender names the two players capable of
Why Man Utd star Paul Pogba is considering Juventus switch amid Real Madrid interest MANCHESTER UNITED star Paul Pogba is reportedly open to moving back to Juventus despite interest from Real Madrid.
NewsNow: Manchester United News, Man Utd Transfer News
Championship 2019/2020: Bookmakers predict how next season's table will look Bookmakers are expecting Leeds to bounce back from promotion failure, with Marcelo Bielsa's men priced at 5/1 to end
Championship 2019/2020: Bookmakers predict how next season's
Danny Murphy clashes with journalist who asked Pep Guardiola
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has 'grown in stature' after his impressive performance against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final.. McTominay was thrown in at the deep end in place of the injured Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera - and has been hailed by many as United's best player in the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Man Utd player ratings and analysis: McTominay excels as
Vincent Kompany has brought an end to a glittering 11-year spell at Manchester City in order to return to his boyhood club Anderlecht in a player-manager role.. Combining playing with managing is
Paul Ince slams Manchester United for appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on permanent basis and suggests board already regret decision World Football April 28, 2019 Premier League players with most errors leading to goals this season include stars from Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham
Paul Ince slams Manchester United for appointing Ole Gunnar
Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfer advice for Gameweek 35, including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham aces by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 19 Apr The Easter week is always huge for football and this one is no different with double gameweek in Fantasy Premier League.
Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfers you should make in
Champions League Predictions 2018. Only 2 teams left at this stage of the competition: 1 English team (Liverpool) and 1 Spanish team (Real Madrid) for a game between two teams who have not met in final since 1981. The UCL 2018 Battle. This season of the Champions League has given much to talk about after the doubles title won by the Real Madrid.
Championship fixtures: Super computer - express.co.uk
0 comments:
Post a Comment