Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has admitted that his emotional connection to the club may have hindered his ability to achieve sustained success during his tenure as manager.
"The club was going through one of the worst periods in its history [when I was appointed], possibly even worse than the early 2000s," Xavi revealed in an interview with France Football. "At times, my deep emotional connection to the club may have worked against me."
Xavi, who made an impressive 767 appearances for Barcelona as a player, returned to the Catalan giants in 2021 to replace Ronald Koeman in the managerial position. Despite limited coaching experience—having only managed Qatari side Al Sadd for two years—he initially brought success to a struggling Barcelona team.
When he took over, Barcelona was languishing in ninth place in LaLiga. Under his guidance, they climbed to a second-place finish that season before going on to win LaLiga and the Spanish Supercopa in the 2022-23 campaign—the club's first league title in four years.
However, his tenure ended abruptly last summer after a trophy-less season. "I was more emotional than I should have been in certain moments, but this experience has been a valuable lesson in learning for me," Xavi explained.
The Barcelona legend acknowledged making strategic errors during his final season. "I admit that I made some mistakes in management," he said. "[Sergio] Busquets' departure forced us to rethink our playing style. I chose to play with a midfield that included three attacking players, but it wasn't always the best option."
Despite the disappointment of his departure, Xavi expressed pride in his contribution to Barcelona's future, particularly in developing young talent. "Beyond trophies, I feel proud that I trusted a new generation of players: Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde... These players represent the future of the club."
Barcelona has indeed flourished under new coach Hansi Flick this season, winning the Supercopa in January while leading LaLiga and advancing in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
As for Xavi's own future, the former Spain international is now preparing to return to coaching after initially planning a year-long sabbatical. "I have nothing concrete on the table," he stated. "I am open [to offers]. Why not coach another team in LaLiga? I am looking for an exciting project."
His ambitions remain as high as ever. "I have the ambition to win trophies. I will listen to different offers... I want to win the Champions League, the Euros, the World Cup."
