The new Barcelona Manager, Xavi Hernandez has vowed to set out a series of rules for Barcelona players, after he was unveiled on Monday.
Xavi left his former club, Al Sadd in Saudi Arabia to take over as Barcelona manager after Koeman was sacked.
He said: “I think at first, it’s important that we put rules in place and be more demanding with ourselves.”
“After that, we can talk about values, about respect and attitude, because if we don’t have values, we don’t have a team. Then we can look at the model, how we play, how we attack, how we defend.
“At the end of the day, the idea is the same as Cruyff‘s. My first defender is the striker and my first attacker is the goalkeeper. We have to work tactically, press high and dominate the ball.
“It’s not about being tough, but having rules. I will try to help the players, personally and professionally. I know how taxing it is psychologically to play for this club.”
Xavi has twice been offered the Barca job since leaving for Al Sadd in 2015, where he spent four years as a player before taking over as coach at the Qatari club in 2019.
“From the moment Joan called this time, I had no doubts.”
“It’s true there was an approach from Brazil but returning to Barcelona was my dream. I have a great relationship with Laporta, he’s the best President the club have ever had, and this was the right moment.”
He has this to say after he was being compared to Pep Guardiola who was the most successful Manager in the history of Barcelona.
“It’s a success if I am already being compared to Pep.”
“I hope that I will be on the list with Pep and Zidane as opposed to the other one!”
Barca are rebuilding after losing Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer.
