Xavi ‘wants to return to Barcelona’ in the future claims former youth team coach | OneFootball

Barcelona are set to lock horns against AS Monaco later tonight in their UEFA Champions League curtain-raiser of the season.

In the brand new format of the competition, it will be the only meeting between the two teams in the preliminary stages, unlike previous years where a reverse fixture would be scheduled.

Instead, the Catalans now face eight different opposition in the ‘league’ phase, four at home and four on the road.

Former Barcelona star praises Xavi

Speaking to the media in the buildup to the Champions League opener, former Monaco and Barcelona star Javier Saviola praised Barcelona’s start to the new season, saying,

“They have had a magnificent start to La Liga. The Champions League determines what situation you are in as a team, more with this new format.”

However, he immediately interjected that credit be given to Xavi Hernandez where it is due for it was the club legend who laid the foundations for the team with his work in recent years.

“We must not forget what Xavi did. I have had the opportunity to be and chat with him, as a friend, we talked about the fact that he did not have the best way out. He has done a very good job.”

“When you don’t win titles, it seems that you have done absolutely nothing. All these boys who are there were taken and trained by Xavi,” he added.

Xavi was sacked by Barcelona earlier this year. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Saviola revealed that Xavi intended to return to the club in the future in some capacity and hoped that a reunion could occur.

“Hopefully at some point, he can find happiness in another team and, in the future, I hope he can return to Barça and do things well, which is what he wants.”

As part of the same interview, the former Argentine footballer recollected his days working in Catalonia for he spent a season as an assistant to Oscar Lopez at Juvenil A.

“It was a great pleasure to be in the Barça gear, with their philosophy, and give them the tools so that they could reach the First Division.”

Speaking on Lamine Yamal who he worked with during his time at the club, Saviola said,

“We realized in our first year, when he was 15 years old. Just by seeing it you already realize that it is different. There are very few with that ability and way of watching football.”

“We knew we were facing an out of the series. He let himself be advised, he listened a lot… It was a bunch of things. In addition to a great soccer player, we are with a person who has absolutely everything,” he added.

Finally, the former Monaco star called for the comparisons between Yamal and Messi to stop and stated it was not good to pressurise the player.

“Comparing him with Messi is not good for Lamine; hopefully he follows in his footsteps, but he will have to work hard.”

Source: SPORT