Member of the golden generation of Spanish football, winner of a World Cup, two Euro Cups and an Olympic silver in Sydney, Xavi Hernández was hurt by the situation that Spanish footballers have had to live in after winning the Women’s World Cup on the 20th of August. “More than surprising me, it saddens me,” he said about all the controversy in which they have been involved. “At the best moment in the history of women’s football, the situation is chaotic,” he said.
The Barcelona coach believes that the players did not deserve this treatment after the perseverance they have shown. “It is an incredible situation with the barriers they have had to overcome,” he lamented.
The Terrassa coach referred to the recent statement in which 39 players declared themselves not eligible for the national team and asked for a quick solution “for the good of Spanish sport.” “For their sake, let everything be clarified,” he claimed.
Xavi, who was forceful in his day censuring former president Rubiales, said that he understands that they have their reasons although he asked them for clarity in their explanations. “They will have their reasons. You have to listen to them. But they have to explain themselves well to understand their reasons. I don’t know the circumstances and I don’t know the whys. They have been clear in his statement. If there is something that is not clear and if there are doubts, the questions are for them. We know little because we are not there.”
In their opinion, the time has come to pull up the rug and explain what has happened and what they have suffered. “Now they are the ones who must clarify everything that has happened, speak clearly and not give rise to confusion.”
On the other hand, Xavi also referred to the negotiation of his renewal and did so with a calm and very optimistic message. “My renewal will be announced shortly, in a few days, without a doubt,” he predicted. The Barcelona coach, who has a contract until June 30, 2024, assured that he must respond to the club’s demands. “I will never be a problem for the club. When I see or they see that my continuity is not correct for the good of the club, I will take a step aside. But I am very excited, because the project is still very current and we have made a great team,” he reasoned.
Before receiving Betis, the Terrassa coach was ironic about his nomination by FIFA for best coach of the year. “I don’t give it too much importance. He makes me laugh. I laugh because the chestnuts you have given me and I am in The Best. Looks like a joke. With what has been suffered throughout the process,” he said.
For the award Xavi competes with Pep Guardiola. In that sense, Xavi is very aware that titles are needed at Barça and it is impossible to wait seven years with the same coach until they win the Champions League, as has happened to the Santpedor coach. “Here you are not going to have as much patience as in other clubs. Manchester City or any other club has nothing to do with Barcelona. And Pep surely knows it. This is different, this is an ocean liner. But for us, winning is a consequence of playing well and playing a style,” he added.
