Barcelona legend credits Xavi for starting a new era at club – ‘Don’t think Hansi Flick started it’

It is puzzling why Barcelona fans, by large, have decided that the team’s success under Hansi Flick directly implies that Xavi Hernandez was a poor manager. 

While indeed the club legend has areas to improve, one must remember that he was the one who brought order to the club at the time of disarray and even led them to a league title with a team of youngsters.

Several players have come out to defend the former manager in recent interviews. The latest to come out in Xavi’s support is his former teammate Thierry Henry.

Henry’s praise

The Barcelona legend who shared a dressing room with Xavi between 2007 and 2010 is now a renowned analyst on CBS Sports and credited the former Barcelona manager for the team’s success in the game analysis last night.

“I don’t think Hansi Flick started a new era, Xavi did,” he said.

Xavi left Barcelona at the end of last season. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)

Elaborating on why he gave credit to the former coach for the team’s current form, he emphasised that it was Xavi who had the courage to play teenagers from the academy and how Flick has smartly continued the same.

“He has continued what Xavi did with Cubarsi and Yamal who have now come up. Now the work he was also doing for two years with the players has been consolidated.”

Finally, Henry labelled Barcelona as the favourites to go a long way this season, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.

“Barcelona is one of the favourites to win, they can also lose but they are on the right track.”

Source: SPORT