Barcelona Unveils New Coach Xavi At Camp Nou
Barcelona presented club legend Xavi Hernandez as its new head coach in front of fans at the Camp Nou stadium on Monday.
Xavi, 41, signed his contract which runs until 2024, on the pitch alongside club president Joan Laporta.
The Catalan legend made an emotional return to the club to succeed Ronald Koeman who was sacked after 14 months in charge. Xavi left his role as Al-Sadd boss to return to the club where he achieved boundless success.
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“Thank you all. I don’t want to get emotional but I am, I feel goosebumps,” Xavi told the fans during the ceremony as he was accompanied by his family.
“This is the biggest club in the world and I’m going to work hard to reach your expectations. Barcelona can’t accept a draw or a defeat. We have to win all the games.”
“I come prepared. My DNA didn’t change. We need to take charge, have the ball, create opportunities, be intense. We have a mission to rescue many things that were lost,” Xavi added.
After the presentation Xavi talked about how discipline will be a major factor in his project as Barcelona manager.
“We have to start with new rules that are going to be strict. It’s not a matter of being tough, it’s about having norms,” Xavi said.
“When we had norms in the locker room things were good, when we didn’t, it went bad. So, we need to have order. Being professionals.vIt’s a medium to long-term project but we’ll need to work really hard to find the results. The expectation and the demand will be the highest. No excuses will be made or accepted.”
Barcelona are ninth in the Spanish La Liga, 11 points behind leaders Real Sociedad and 10 behind rivals Real Madrid.
- Read more: Barcelona confirms return of Xavi as manager
Chidi Nwoke/Barcelona.
