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Taiphan000 · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jan 2019 Posts: 412

Xavi's opinion on his Barcelona players[/b]
His past remarks on members of the current team[/b]
Xavi Hernandez returns to the Camp Nou as Barcelona's new coach to take charge of a team captained by Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, all of whom were his former teammates.
The Spanish coach hasn't hidden that he has been following Barcelona from abroad since departing the club back in 2015 and over the years he has expressed his opinion on certain players across different media.
Let's take a look at Xavi's view on Barcelona players such as Busquets, Ansu Fati, Gavi and more.
Sergio Busquets: The best defensive midfielder in history
"[Busquets' contribution] to the group is unquestionable," Xavi told La Vanguardia back in 2019.
"It is necessary to analyse why sometimes he does not perform. He is essential in high block and pressing up [the pitch] because of how he tactically reads the game, he does not lose duels, his recovery of the ball or because of how he knows where to attack.
"On the other hand, in a large and open pitch he is one of the slowest players on a physical level. For me he is the best defensive midfielder in history and the environment in Barcelona has crushed him on some occasions and he has suffered."
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Ansu Fati: Big words
"He has been an incredible surprise," Xavi told Marca in 2020.
"Making the difference and with the personality that makes it at the age of 16... Seeing how he makes decisions on the pitch... Ugh! Big words."
Pedri: He has a great, great future
"It is true that he is making a difference at Barcelona and the national team at 18 years old," Xavi told Mundo Deportivo in 2020.
"He shows a brutal football maturity, decision-making is always good and that is the most difficult thing in football. He is intelligent, he surprises [us] with his age.
"I predict a great, great future for him. He has an innate talent. You have to take advantage of him and enjoy him. But you have to tell him to dare."
De Jong: Complete player for the modern game
"De Jong is an excellent wildcard," Xavi told La Vanguardia in 2019.
"He covers a lot of ground because he has the physique, he is good at recovering balls and now he has discovered that he can score. He is a complete footballer, for modern football."
Gavi: He is 17 years old and competes as if he were 30
"He is very talented," Xavi told 2022Qatar.
"What surprises me is that at 17 years old he competes as if he were 30. It is his quality, how he competes, how he is developing.
"He is a player of the present and future that shows that at 17 years old you can compete. I predict a spectacular future for him, he has a lot of quality."
Riqui Puig: A pure La Masia player
"The truth is that he is a boy who breathes talent and plays simply," Xavi told Mundo Deportivo in 2018.
"He has self-confidence, personality, he does not hide and asks for the ball. I am very happy because when I see him play, you can see a total Barcelona school [player], something that we like so much.
"In a way, he brings back to our memory that football we experienced years ago at the Barcelona academy. That DNA that is so particular to our game and is so complex to find in specific players. And Riqui has it."
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