Xavi Hernandez - a legend of world football, a Spanish player who became one of the most influential and technically gifted players of his generation. He was born on January 25, 1980, in Terrassa, Spain, and displayed his football talent from a young age. Xavi became renowned for his outstanding passing skills and ball control. He possessed a unique ability to control the game on the field, distribute passes, and create attacks for his team.
He began his professional career in 1998, joining the youth team of Barcelona. Over time, he became an integral part of Barcelona's main squad and a product of the legendary La Masia academy. He spent 17 years at FC Barcelona, eventually becoming its captain and one of the main inspirations behind the "tiki-taka" style of play.
Xavi helped Barcelona win numerous domestic and international trophies, including 8 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League titles. He became the heart and soul of the team, and his on-field leadership was invaluable to Barcelona's success during that period. Xavi is also a key figure for the Spanish national team. With the national squad, he won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
His intellectual approach to the game and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates made him an irreplaceable player for the national team. After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi moved to Qatari club Al-Sadd, where he continued to showcase his skills and leadership. He helped the team win several national titles and became a symbol of football development in Qatar.
In addition to his playing career, Xavi has shown an interest in coaching. He has completed coaching courses and expressed a desire to one day manage his former team, Barcelona. Xavi Hernandez is not only a player of exceptional class but also a symbol of virtuosity, game reading ability, and leadership on the field. His style and contribution to world football will be remembered by generations of fans.
Statistically, there is no side in the big five European leagues that is worse at finishing off their chances than Barcelona this season. The Blaugrana have an expected goals deficit of negative 7.5, well below their rivals, and it has cost them points on multiple occasions. One of the figures under pressure as a result has been Robert Lewandowski, but there will be no more quarter given by Xavi Hernandez.
The Polish striker is still Barcelona’s top scorer with 9 goals, but is underperforming his expected goals by 3.8, and has scored just three times since September. With Brazilian striker Vitor Roque arriving, there will be even more pressure on Lewandowski to start scoring more frequently.
Manager Xavi Hernandez reportedly balled Lewandowski out during their final match of the year against Almeria, resulting in a 3-2 win. The ex-Bayern Munich forward provided the decisive assist, but did continue to miss his opportunities. Marca say that Xavi believes his frustration at half-time against Almeria has been understood by the squad, and in particular, that Lewandowski has been warned that there will be no ‘untouchables, and no privileges’ regardless of status.
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