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.
For more information about how to listen LIVE on talkSPORT click here. West Brom vs Aston Villa: Kick-off time. The Championship play-off semi-final second-leg will get underway at 8pm on Tuesday, May 14. West Brom and Villa drew 2-2 at the Hawthorns before the Baggies claimed a 2-0 win at Villa Park in their league meetings this season.
West Brom vs Aston Villa live on talkSPORT: Commentary
Danny Rose believes it would be a "waste of time" to do any coaching badges when he retires because black players are "not given a chance" to become managers. Rose said earlier this month that he
Danny Rose says doing his coaching badges would be a 'waste
Bolton buyer Bassini reveals the stumbling blocks he faces in takeover done deal. Laurence Bassini tells talkSPORT he has completed Bolton Wanderers takeover New Bolton buyer even worse
The Latest Bolton Wanderers News (Talk Sport) | SportSpyder
Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table with a routine defeat of Everton. Gabriel Jesus struck either side of half-time, with Raheem Sterling adding a third for the hosts after Dominic Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit with a fine header.
Manchester City return to top of Premier League with win at
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed Mohamed Salah to rediscover his goalscoring form and believes team-mate Sadio Mane can provide inspiration. Mohamed Salah will end Liverpool goal drought.
Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp salutes 'outstanding - goal.com
David Luiz appeared to catch Gonzalo Higuain in the face with a late elbow, sparking a training ground altercation. At the Olympic Stadium in Baku on Tuesday night, as the Blues went through preparations for the Europa League final clash with Arsenal, the team-mates clashed.
~ Chelsea training ground row: Video of David Luiz appearing
Raheem Sterling cannot wait for Sunday's Premier League title decider after the 'massive honour' of picking up the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award. A stunning season
Anyone who wants to be, any way they want to be one." Well, maybe we could work to shun the sex offenders and other predatory types that try to get involved with the geekdom on occasion, lest we fall victim to GSF number one. The rest, however, is spot on and a wonderful response to the hate-vomit that Peacock put on CNN.
Luis Suarez, Patrice Evra Racist Comment Ban: Timeline of the
Leroy Sane transfer: Bayern Munich 'have not made an offer
Unai Emery confirmed on Wednesday that injured Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey has made his last appearance for Arsenal ahead of his move to Juventus. Aaron Ramsey has played his last game for
Unai Emery confirms Aaron Ramsey has played his last game for
profile Who is Nicolas Pepe: Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target's stats, position and goals for Lille
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target's
fussboll.com/2019/04/24/liverpool-arsenal-and-manchester-united-transfer-targets-stats-position-and-goals//
Liverpool are reportedly leading the chase for his signature, with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton also interested. Lille look set to finish second in the French top flight, thanks largely to the form of Pepe, and the club are already resigned to the prospect of losing him this summer.
Liverpool and Man Utd target Nicolas Pepe 'makes transfer
Top goalscorers in Europe: Which strikers are over/under
The Sun UK - 07 February 2018 код для вставки )
No comments:
Post a Comment