Iniesta comes out in defence of Xavi’s time at Barcelona – ‘There have been many positive things’

Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta has shared his thoughts on Xavi’s decision to take charge of the club, noting that Xavi felt it was the right moment to step up as the head coach. 

Iniesta, who played alongside Xavi for many years, highlighted that despite the challenges faced by the former midfielder, there are numerous positives to take from Xavi’s tenure at the club.

He mentioned that Xavi accepted the Barcelona managerial role because he felt ready for the challenge. 

“Xavi came to Barcelona because he felt ready and to some, it seems as if everything he did was useless,”  said Iniesta during an interview with Onda Cero.

While some may perceive his efforts as fruitless due to the team’s struggles, Iniesta pointed out that several positive aspects are often overlooked. 

“On the contrary, there are many positive things that Xavi has done but we like to compare and only see the negatives.”

It must be noted that Xavi had initially made up his mind to leave the club at the end of the season, yet he eventually chose to extend his stay. 

Andres Iniesta has spoken in favour of Xavi. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, despite his commitment, the club decided to part ways with him in May. His comments on the squad’s state and the financial difficulties Barcelona faced did not align with the board’s vision, leading to his dismissal.

Departure from Barcelona

On a personal note, Iniesta reflected on his own departure from Barcelona back in 2018. He mentioned that one of the reasons he left European football was because he didn’t want to compete against the club he holds so dear. 

“I left European football because I didn’t want to compete against Barcelona and the experience in Japan on a personal and professional level was very good,” he noted.

Lastly, Iniesta expressed satisfaction with how he exited Barcelona. Leaving a massive club at 34 years old in such a respectful manner was an accomplishment for him. 

“I’m happy with the way I left Barcelona, ​​it’s not easy to leave big teams like that.”

Being able to depart with a positive image was a significant achievement, as it is often difficult for players to leave major clubs on good terms.