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.
Barcelona qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals. The 'Cules' beat Napoli 3-1, in a match in which Pau Cubarsi excelled. The 17-year-old defender was able to stop a goalscorer of Osimhen's status and earned the respect and admiration of his coach, Xavi Hernandez.
"Cubarsi doesn't get nervous. His ball control is brutal and he has the pace to generate attacking moves. He links up well with the midfielders, it's a pleasure to watch him play," said the coach with a happy face, who also highlighted the performance of his team.
"It was a complete game. The team gave everything, I'm proud of the players. I said they would take a step forward with my departure at the end of the season. People didn't believe me and said I was going to lose the dressing room's backing. We have received a lot of unfair criticism. The team was very good, aggressive, high pressing. We were very good in defence and we were close to excellent. The fans enjoyed it. It's no coincidence that we won 3-1 against a great rival", he commented.
Regarding the substitutions of Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu and Joao Felix, this is what Xavi had to say: "They have given us fresh legs. We've moved on with very young players. There's a lot of merit in what this team has done".
Finally, the coach from Terrassa, who thanked the fans for their support on a key day for the 'Cule', is already looking forward to the quarter-finals to fight to advance to the next round. "Now, let's wait for the draw. I'm excited and eager to be in the semis," he concluded.
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