Xavi is sincere about Barça de Flick: intact legacy, young shining and a revealing talk

Xavi Hernández, former coach of FC Barcelona, gave an extensive interview to the sports newspaper 'The Athletic', in which he addressed numerous topics, many of them related to the Blaugrana team. The man from Egara, who has not coached since leaving the Barça bench (June 2024), made an interesting revelation about his relationship with Hansi Flick, the current coach of the Catalan team:

"Hansi came to see me and we talked for two hours. We have a good relationship and he said to me: 'Thank you very much. What you helped create here makes me happy. The players train hard and learn from you'"

In turn, during that conversation, the former coach also wanted to offer valuable advice to Hansi Flick: "I said to him: 'Don't follow anything from the media or you'll go crazy. Focus on the team, because if you're from here you suffer a lot'", he warned.

Xavi follows Barça, although from a distance

Despite not being in charge of the Barcelona team, the Terrassa native admits to following the news of Barcelona very closely. "I follow it on television, it's difficult to go to a stadium. My son wants us to go and see Barcelona, but it's difficult to sit in the stands. So I watch it on television and enjoy Hansi's team. They press on the wings, with Raphinha and Lamine jumping at the same time, as do the full-backs. The defenders Iñigo, Cubarsi and Araujo read the offside trap wonderfully", he explained.

"They press on the wings, with Raphinha and Lamine jumping at the same time, as do the full-backs. The defenders Iñigo, Cubarsi and Araujo read the offside trap wonderfully"

Hernández: "We are a Barça family"

Beyond tactical football, Xavi Hernández was also emotional when talking about his family and their connection with the club: "My son adores Lamine Yamal and Pedri. He loves Barça. Our nine-year-old daughter adores Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. We are a Barça family. If the team plays, we watch the men's and women's teams. The children collect stickers of both teams", he began by saying.

In addition to this, the Azulgrana legend took the opportunity to make it clear that he is happy with the club's present: "We are happy that Barça is doing so well. Many people think that I wouldn't be happy because I'm not there anymore. But I'm very happy that the team and Hansi Flick are doing well. We have a very good team that is only going to get better because it is very young", he concluded.

"Many people think that I wouldn't be happy because I'm not there anymore. But I'm very happy that the team and Hansi Flick are doing well"

Praise for Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Lamine Yamal and Cubarsí

The man from Egara also had words of admiration for several of his former players, such as Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. "He doesn't lose the ball. He makes the best decisions every time he has the ball. And Frenkie is in a great moment", he said.

In addition to this, Xavi proudly recalled his role in the debuts of young promises: "If you ask me if I am happy and proud to have given Lamine his debut and (Pau) Cubarsí, of course I am. Lamine is a genius. He will become the best", he emphasized.

The man from Egara spoke about the pressure of coaching at Barcelona

Hernández also reflected on the difficulty of working at a club of the magnitude of Barcelona: "It takes time to create a project. Even now, Barcelona is under construction. I was criticised when I said that when I was coach, but Lamine is 17 years old. Cubarsí is 18. Pedri is 22, Gavi 20, Balde 21. But if you don't win anything for a season, people panic", he explained.

"I was criticised when I said that when I was coach, but Lamine is 17 years old. Cubarsí is 18. Pedri is 22, Gavi 20, Balde 21. But if you don't win anything for a season, people panic"

Xavi's future: A long-term project... And in the Premier League?

Finally, Xavi referred to his future plans as a coach. "I'm not in a hurry, but I'd like a good project. A project in which they say to me: 'You have four years to work and develop a project'. I would love to work in the Premier League, because I love the passion there. In Spain, it's all about results", he assured.

"I would love to work in the Premier League, because I love the passion there"

He also praised some sports projects that he admires in the Premier League: "Chelsea with Maresca has a good project, Arsenal with Arteta also has a good project. It's their sixth year there and there have been difficult seasons, but the club trusted the process and continued. That doesn't happen in Spain", he began by saying.

In that line of argument, the man from Egara spoke about the treatment that Carlo Ancelotti is receiving in Spain for his season with Real Madrid. "Look what has happened to Ancelotti, with everyone criticising him. It's not fair. He has won thirty titles in ten years and they criticise him as if he hasn't won anything. Valverde explained it perfectly: 'If they criticise Ancelotti, what hope is there for the rest?'. The pressure in Spain is very difficult, especially in Barcelona and Madrid", he argued.

The national team? It's also on his radar

Asked about the option of coaching the Spanish national team, he did not close any doors: "Why not? Or any other. I'm not in a hurry. I don't have an obsession about where I want to coach. I'm relaxed watching football and being with my family", he concluded.