Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the constant comparisons between himself and his former teammate and coach, Pep Guardiola, stating that such comparisons are not helpful for his managerial career. Despite leading Barcelona to their first La Liga title since 2019, Xavi has faced criticism for his pragmatic style of play, which has resulted in several narrow victories and a solid defensive record.
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Having been a player under Guardiola during Barcelona's unprecedented success with his renowned "tiki-taka" philosophy, Xavi feels burdened by the expectations to replicate his former coach's style. In an interview with TV3, he stated, "The figure of Guardiola is weighing me down as a coach. I don't think it's fair to constantly make the comparison. It happened to me when I was a player as well. Everyone has to turn the page."
While Xavi acknowledged that he doesn't feel there has been universal support for his achievements at the club, he does feel valued internally. A new contract extension until 2026 is expected to be agreed upon soon, reflecting the club's confidence in his abilities.
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Regarding his contract renewal, Xavi mentioned, "Yes. We will come to an understanding sooner rather than later. I know the club will make as much of an effort as they can, and there won't be any problems. I'll end up renewing, and hopefully, I can continue here for many years."
Xavi's tenure as Barcelona's head coach has brought the club immense success, as they have already secured the Primera Division trophy for the 2022-23 season. With their domestic triumph assured, the team will strive to end the campaign on a high note in their final match against Celta Vigo on Sunday, June 4.