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 are brimming with excitement after their return to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will face PSG. Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, in the press room, gave his first impressions ahead of the first leg at the Parc des Princes.
"I think the word, after four years out of the quarter-finals, the word is illusion. We can dream. We are very motivated. We are at the best moment of the season and we are playing against a team that is ready to win the Champions League with one of the best coaches, Luis Enrique", he said.
The Catalan coach also confirmed the presence of Pedri and De Jong: "I'm positive that all those who have travelled will be available and then we will decide which team to select.
On Luis Enrique's words: "I've seen it. It's Luis Enrique. I think you know him. All the respect in the world. He has a team made to win the Champions League and that's the intention. We are both looking for the same thing. We can boast that Luis Enrique, Guardiola, Arteta and us have Barca DNA. Tomorrow we'll be looking for the same thing: to come out with the ball...".
Moreover, he did not see Mbappe as the only danger: "Mbappe, Dembele, Kolo Muani, Vitinha.... The scorer is Mbappe. We have to be careful to keep an eye on transitions.
"Gundogan will be important to win the duels in midfield. Luis Enrique's teams are the most intense in the world. We're talking about a game in which it will be difficult for us to have the ball in the opposition half. There are so many variations that we have to control," he continued.
"It was difficult at the beginning but it ended well with the treble and lifting the Champions League as captain. It was a very good relationship from captain to coach and I remember it with
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