Xavi Hernandez reviewed some of the past and present names of Barcelona. In a chat of more than half an hour on the YouTube channel of Romario, the Catalan reviewed his time as a coach and said that, like Messi, there was also the option of Neymar returning to the Camp Nou when he was in charge.
Ballon d’Or
“Messi is a much better footballer than me. There is no comparison or debate. When the three of us are together and they say Leo Messi, my feeling is one of justice. I am a team footballer and there they choose one at an individual level, differential. I don’t have the feeling that I have been robbed of a Ballon d’Or.”
Players with a similar profile to him
“There’s Pedri, there’s Vitinha, there’s Mac Allister… There are three or four players who for me are the best because they understand collective football. They understand that, when they pass the ball, they are already thinking about the next play, even the double play. They don’t pass for the sake of passing: they understand the game. Pedri, for example, has it. Also Frenkie de Jong, who for me is very underrated. I think he’s a footballer similar to what I was like.”
De Jong is an underrated player
New Messi
“I hope I’m wrong because I would like them to improve Messi, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I lived with Leo every day for 15 years and he was the best at everything: technically, physically, understanding the game, heading, bad leg, mentality… he’s a competitive animal. Unbeatable. When you gave him the ball, he improved everything and made you better. I was a passer. He was from another planet, well he is, because he is going to play in a World Cup. In addition, he is a humble person, hardworking, disciplined, perfectionist. I saw him when he was 16 years old. He’s a phenomenon, from another planet and also a person. Good guy. I tried to get him back to Barcelona but in the end the president said no.”
“My son asks me if I’m friends with them and he doesn’t believe it” (laughs)
Lamine Yamal
“You can compare them. He is a chosen one, a football genius and now it depends on him. He is one of the best, or the best, currently. Now it depends on his desire to make history.”
His time as Barcelona coach
“I am very proud. The club was at its worst moment in history and we won two titles. We left a legacy of young people like Fermin, Cubaris, Balde… who are now the backbone.”
Is it more difficult to be a player or a coach?
“Being a coach. You’re guilty of everything. Being a coach is more complicated. A footballer lives well, is calm and disconnects. A coach can’t disconnect.”
After winning the league and the Super Cup, unconsciously my demands dropped a little
Balance
“We agreed with the president, but a person from the club did not let us continue. We laid the foundations. The players have matured. There is a team for the next ten years with Lamine, Cubarsi, Fermin, Balde… Coaching Barcelona was a master’s degree. The first year and a half I went in with a very high demand on the players and especially on the president. I demanded a lot from the president during that time. After winning La Liga and the Super Cup, unconsciously my demands dropped a little bit. I was self-critical and thought: ‘This can’t happen to me again’. The coach’s demands on the players and on the people in charge of the club have to be at their maximum, always thinking about the good of the team.”
There is a team for the next ten years with Lamine, Cubarsi, Fermin and Balde
Raphinha
“I signed Raphinha. I asked the club to sign Raphinha. In fact, I already wanted to sign him for Al Sadd when he was in Portugal. My boss told me about him, but Raphinha stayed in Europe. Then I told Jordi Cruyff and Mateu Alemany that we had to sign him, because he is a winner, he attacks the depth, he has one-on-one and he has a goal. I always gave Rafa confidence and I have a very good relationship with him. But the coach has to understand the performance during the matches. If a player is not performing, another one has to come in. We also had players to make a difference. I remember a very good conversation with Raphinha in training. He was frustrated and I said to him: ‘Rafa, you’ve signed here for five years. Calm down. Confidence. You’re not being natural, but calm down’. I understand that the changes didn’t help him, but now he’s exploded. We already saw a lot of talent in him and I’m very happy, because he’s a good guy, a winner, responsible and a leader. He can be, without a doubt, one of the big names in the World Cup.”
I asked the club to sign Raphinha
Neymar
“What I saw from Neymar during his first week with us is the closest thing to Messi. I haven’t seen any player as close to Messi as Neymar when he joined Barca at 21 years old. He couldn’t come back when I was coach, but because of the club’s economic situation. I was also able to get Alves, Pedrito and Messi back.”
Spain, Brazil, Argentina, France and I would add Portugal, are my favorites for the World Cup
World Cup favorites
“Spain, Brazil, Argentina, France and I would add Portugal. I have doubts between Portugal and England. Germany I see less Germany than years ago, but it is also Germany.”
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