El Maestro: Xavier Hernández Creus

He's gonna live with her parents

Honestly I don't find the whole "living with parents thing" so stupid. He can obviously afford to live somewhere much better.. to me it shows character.

Living with your parents or close to your parents isn't unusual in mediterranean countries.

More unusual if you're in a city and/or 'upper-class'.

If i were a millionaire I'd let my parents live in my huge mansion, it'd probably be so big I'd rarely see them anyways.
I don't see the big problem lol, if he were a 30+ year old man feeding off their money then I'd understand.

One of the greatest.



Why he is not basque?  

alfred, thanks for posting the pictures.

Good luck next season buddy. Are you prepared to start every match?

Worried about Xavi being at his best next season. I could tell he was tired even in the Confederations Cup

He's going to come into this season tired already

DM: Busquets/Song
CM: Xavi/Cesc/Song
AM: Iniesta/Cesc/Roberto

Song more playing time, he did well with Song in his last season in an advanced role (provided couple of assists also)
I expect Roberto to get around 20-25 games next season against smaller teams... (he'll do fine).

Khaled you were having problems with the forum before. Is it ok now?

Sport: As a personal curiosity as a dating man, do you feel any different now that you are married?
Xavi Hernandez: No, the partnership is the same, on a personal level I am very well, super happy. It doesn’t change anything, I can concentrate perfectly on my career. The party was also very nice, the wedding unforgettable, with my friends and family. A great experience.
 
S: And many stayed on pretty late, right?
XH: Yeah, yeah, it was a fun party.
 
S: Now on to more serious matters, how did you find out that Tito would leave due to sickness, you must have been on your honey moon?
XH: I found out through whatsapp with Zubi and Sandro. I was in Seychelles. It’s a delicate and complicated matter. I also spoke with Tito through whatsapp.
 
S: When was the last time you talked to him?
XH: A few days ago through whatsapp. He is calm and tranquil all things considered. Obviously it’s a huge blow for his family, for him and for the team. It leaves a sour taste for all of us. First because he is a great person, a person that always tackles problems head on, that has given everything for the team, and that it arrives at a time when he was given a chance at the first team. It’s a doubly strong blow. At the moment you are motivated, when he already told us he wanted to work strategy and tactics more this year, what we are doing now actually, to work on the pressing, we had already talked about all of that with Tito. The moment arrives when he can take leadership of this group and this happens. It’s terrible. But it is what it is. Life goes on.
 
S: Yes, now with Tata…
XH: He is a leader, able, prepared and with experience. He teaches us a lot, truly. We are slowly recovering that intensity and rhythm that perhaps we lost the last season for diverse circumstances at the last part of the season, we are working very well the pressure and physical work. We are happy with him, and the training sessions. Additionally all of Tito’s staff is still with us, which is very good. He doesn’t come here with an oversized ego, only to contribute and add a few things that he is insisting on, for example on strategy that we are working differently. We are adapting, he is a man with clear ideas and is very precise in what he wants. We are adapting well.
 
S: Why was the pressure and intensity lowered?
XH: Against Milan we did it and we succeeded. Because of circumstances, automatisms, because we didn’t train, because Tito was out for 2 or 3 months, that in the end was not trained. We did the position games and the rondos to work mental speed, but perhaps we were missing the tactical aspect. Tito liked to work all aspects and Tata does as well. And that’s what we are doing nowadays. The tactical work that we were perhaps not doing enough of. Here and there, all of us going to pressure at once. The important thing is that the philosophy is the same, regardless of who plays the philosophy stays. In this sense I think this might be a good season because our feeling right now is a very good one.
 
S: How are you assimilating the man marking at the set pieces?
XH: There are three or four players that will do mark to man, but it will be a mixture. Before it was entirely zonal, everyone took care of his zone, now three or four go to men and there are two that don’t: Pique is free and I go to the first goal to stop that zone. We work differently, looking also at the clearances. But yeah, Tata prefers a more man to man approach in these types of plays. They are different things, but look, Victor also prefers to defend like this because he will have more spaces to come out. There is consensus in this, we are working very well the tactical and strategy aspects, and that’s good because then we automate them.
 
S: Neymar is one of the candidates to throw free kicks?
XH: Neymar comes to contribute. Alexis does them very well, Alves, Messi. There will be moments for everyone, it depends on everyone’s confidence, the one that just scored from one will want to try again. It doesn’t change anything.
 
S: What do Brazilians have that the rest don’t?
XH: Above all the joy they get while playing football, you can tell they’re having a good time, they don’t have any pressure. He is brave, he dares, is able on the one to one. He is good opening the field, in goal quality, associates well, a brutal footballer, someone that can mark a difference. We will do well, I’ m sure.
 
S: How come Leo and Neymar have not picked a fight yet?
XH: The companionship is very good here, the ones that are close to the team can see this. There is a good atmosphere. We don’t need to say it. The good atmosphere simply is here, with Leo and with everyone. Neymar will not lack for anything because we want him to be happy so that he can demonstrate his worth. And he will because you can see it on his face, he’s happy, he’s always by Dani’s side all day. But we also joking with him.
 
S: He seems a bit shy, right?
XH: He’s quite introverted to be honest. He’s not a speaker, but it’s also true that it’s the first couple of day,s he’s very young, doesn’t know the language, arrived at a big club across the atlantic, it’s not the same club he’s always been at. But he’s easing in a bit already. We want him to be himself. The important thing is that he is humble, he fits perfectly with Barca’s philosophy.

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Barca section giving totalbarca a run for their money

Always like listening to Xavi, he comes off sounding like a coach. I am sure he will head that way too.

Against Milan we did it and we succeeded. Because of circumstances, automatisms, because we didn’t train, because Tito was out for 2 or 3 months, that in the end was not trained. We did the position games and the rondos to work mental speed, but perhaps we were missing the tactical aspect.

Found this quote to be the most significant. I'm not surprised at all, it merely confirms what we all thought. That's a real shame, but I'm glad it seems like it will only be a blip in our recent history.

I agree about how Xavi sounds. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't end up being the manager of Barca sometime.

RealGunner wrote:Khaled you were having problems with the forum before. Is it ok now?

Yeah its solved. Sorry for the late reply, I just saw your post.

Have I ever loved a footballer so much? Simply my favorite.

"not a majestic performance" yeah right. He was spectacular, not just majestic

Giggity5313 wrote:"not a majestic performance" yeah right. He was spectacular, not just majestic

Correct me if I am wrong, but you are saying that because of what free said, am I right? In that case it's the wrong game..

I used to rate Iniesta higher, now I rate Xavi higher I think. Hes still able to put in that level, now that he gets more rests I think.

Imagining Xavi to be future Barca manager, omg!!!!!!!!!!!

harhar11 wrote:

Giggity5313 wrote:"not a majestic performance" yeah right. He was spectacular, not just majestic

Correct me if I am wrong, but you are saying that because of what free said, am I right? In that case it's the wrong game..

dam.. lol my bad

The Spaniard's international colleague turns 34 in January - and some feel his influence on the pitch is beginning to wane.

However, Cazorla disputes this is the case, and he believes Xavi is still in a league of his own.


"I would love to reach his age and be as fresh as he is," Cazorla stated in an interview with AS. "He is one of the best players around, he’s a specialist in his position and no-one comes close to him. I can’t stand it when people say things like that."

Xavi came through the youth ranks at the Camp Nou before making his senior debut in 1998.

The technically-gifted midfielder has gone on to make 688 appearances for the Barcelona senior side, scoring an impressive 82 goals in the process.

He has also helped the Catalan giants win a host of trophies, including seven La Liga titles and three European Cups.

Under new coach Tata Martino, Xavi has continued to feature regularly, and he is expected to help Spain defend the World Cup at next summer's finals in Brazil.

Xavi cannot play at the same level he did between 08 and 11 because physically he is nowhere near his peak. Still great but his mobility and field coverage is not even close to previous levels. Then again between those years, he was in a league of his own.

Can someone please post a gif of that brilliant control off the Valdes long ball.Have not seen a better control this season.
Continuing with his form had another brilliant game against Milan.Should have had a couple of assists if not for poor finishing.Alexis really should have done better after that great long ball.
But alas,he cant play against parked buses.Continues to prove people wrong at the ripe old age of 34.    

Here's the video



This was awesome play with Xavi and Neymar

harhar11 wrote:Here's the video

ffs, reminds me of this

ridiculous

harhar11 wrote:Here's the video



This was awesome play with Xavi and Neymar

Thanks man.That is a stupendous first touch.His ball control/trapping is just impeccable.
I still cant decide who has the better first touch between him and Iniesta.I keep going back and forth.The moment I decide on one,the other comes up with a control to change my mind. I had concluded that Iniesta's was better by a feather.But after this control by Xavi I am again confused and now think Xavi has a slightly better first touch.
Another question.Out of Xavi,Iniesta and Berbatov who has the best first touch?Again very tough.