Xavi: I feel ready to coach Barçelona

Xavi Hernandez has been talking once again about the possibility of taking charge of Barcelona and says he now feels ready for the role.

The former midfielder has turned down the job in the past but his latest comments suggest if Barca ask again then he could well say yes this time around.

“I am always on the market! The club decided to continue with Koeman and I wish him the best. In these last four months, I have not had any contact with [Laporta] or anyone from the board.

“I don’t know when the moment will arrive but, for me, it would be a dream to return to Barca one day. I’m in no rush, honestly, but I hope it happens.

“I understand people may think I am not ready, but I want to make it clear that I am. I know the club, the environment... I am coaching at a professional level, not kids, and I feel prepared.

“People also criticised [Pep] Guardiola and [Zinedine] Zidane before they took charge at Barca and [Real] Madrid. But Koeman’s the coach now and you have to respect that. I don’t want there to be a permanent debate about that.”

Xavi was also asked about how he would feel about coaching players he used to play with and insisted it wouldn’t be a problem. He added, “I see that as an advantage, at Al Sadd I am coaching players I played with.”

Yet the Al Sadd coach also insisted he wouldn’t be interested in heading back to Barcelona and coaching the B team before taking on the senior side.

“It’s not my idea to coach Barça B, to be honest. I am coaching in men’s football and consider the B team a development team. I’m working with professional football, in the elite... that wouldn’t be the idea.”

Source | ESPN

Barcelona will start the new season with Ronald Koeman in charge for a second campaign with the Catalan giants, while Xavi will once again take charge of Al Sadd after signing a two-year contract extension in May.