Former FC Barcelona man Lionel Messi backs the new manager Xavi Hernandes to take Blaurgana to new heights in the coming days. Messi has spent considerable time with Xavi having played 399 games together during their time at Barcelona. It was back in the 2004-05 season when both the players played together for Blaugrana for the first time.
Sadly the Champions League win over Juventus in 2015 was the last time they played together. While a lot has changed over the last few years, Messi’s trust in Xavi is still the same even after so many years. Messi left Camp Nou this summer after Barcelona’s financial turmoil did not allow the club to extend his contract. Hence an offer from Paris Saint Germain made the Argentinian magician interested as he knew Barcelona would not be able to manage his wages due to their financial crunch. Hen Messi had to join the French giants this summer.
However, Xavi left Barcelona a few years ago when he joined Al Sadd in Qatar. After playing for them a season he was appointed as their head coach. Since then, he was managing Al Sadd and developed them into a really good passing side. But with situations at Barcelona getting more and more out of hand under Ronald Koeman, the management had to take a step as they decided to sack the Dutchman and replace Xavi Hernandez with him.
It was nothing short of homecoming for Xavi as he returned to Camp Nou after a long time but this time with huge responsibilities on his shoulders. Xavi will have to pull the club out of trouble as they have not been great in the La Liga and the financial woes are still pulling the Blaugrana down.
Messi has backed Xavi to succeed as a Barcelona manager and feels that he is the ideal guy to take them to the greater heights. he recently stated, ‘”Xavi is a coach who knows a lot, who knows the house perfectly, who knows everything well since he was a child. He is a very important person for the young people and that he is a person who will make Barcelona grow a lot, I have no doubt.”
Xavi’s era as a Barcelona manager started on a positive note as the Blaugrana defeated Espanyol by a solitary Memphis Depay goal from the spot.