Five months ago, Xavi Hernandez started his coaching career with Qatar’s Al Sadd supervising their preseason training camp in Girona, 100km away from Barcelona – a city of his birth and a place which made him the legendary footballer.
In his illustrious career as a player with the Spanish giants, Xavi - also a World Cup winner - won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies for Barcelona before coming to Qatar.
The Spaniard’s 31 trophies for Barcelona and Spain combined, makes him one of the most decorated Spanish player in history.
But, the beginning of a coaching career for Xavi is nothing short of a roller coaster ride.
After giving up the captain’s arm band last July to replace veteran Jesualdo Ferreira as Al Sadd head coach, the Barcelona legend’s first and only trophy in the new role so far was the Sheikh Jassim Cup, which the ‘Wolves’ won after edging Al Duhail 1-0 in August.
The Doha giants reached the semi-final of the AFC Champions League, which they lost to eventual winners Al Hilal. In the ongoing QSL season, Al Sadd are currently fourth behind leaders Al Duhail, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa – though they have played two games less than the top three sides in the points standings.
Perhaps, Xavi’s biggest disappointment as a coach came on Tuesday night when his team suffered 2-6 drubbing by African champions Esperance Sportive in a play-off for fifth position at the FIFA Club World Cup in Doha.
The heavy defeat was followed by questions over his possible resignation as Al Sadd coach.
“No, absolutely I am not thinking about resigning. I am happy about my project in Al Sadd,” he said.
“We must be realistic and our real game was first two matches of this tournament. We have a QSL match after six days against Al Gharafa and we must go back and compete strongly,” he said.
“I feel confident despite what happened and we have to work positively. We have a good team and good players, this is part of football and I must work and raise the confidence of the players to help them make a strong return.”
“Off course, I have to improve, I have to gain more experience but I am happy with my commitment,” said Xavi.
The Spaniard, earlier, reiterated his aim of returning Barcelona as the coach.
“One of my dreams is to coach Barcelona, off course. I said that many times, in many interviews,” said Xavi.
“I don’t think I will be joining Barcelona anytime soon. I am focusing on the present and I am very happy to coach Al Sadd, which have very good players. This is present and you cannot control the future,” he said.
With the year coming to a close, Xavi’s aim in 2020 will be to help Al Sadd sweep all four trophies in Qatar besides guiding the side to AFC Champions League title and a possible participation at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“We have young players, who are very good. I am very happy with their performance and I see there is not much gap between top clubs and Al Sadd,” said Xavi.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was impressed with Xavi’s Al Sadd.
“What I saw from Al Sadd was really good. They are playing for Xavi, one of the best football players in the world with a big career and now as a coach,” Klopp said on Tuesday.
“You could see that in the game as well, it was really good football. I think they were ready and it was a tight game and it was really close and Al Sadd could have gone through,” he said while speaking on Al Sadd’s quarter-final loss to Monterrey.
