Xavi Hernandez has opened up about his time as Barcelona manager, insisting that his tenure was far from a failure despite the challenges he faced. In an interview with France Football via Marca, the club legend admitted to making mistakes but took pride in his contributions, particularly in the development of young talent.

“If you look at our record – and I include my coaching staff – it is very positive,” Xavi stated. “The club was in one of its worst periods in history, perhaps even worse than the beginning of the millennium.”

Taking over in a turbulent era, Xavi faced immense pressure to restore Barcelona to the top. He acknowledged that his deep emotional bond with the club made the job even more challenging.

“Maybe my emotional connection to the club hurt me at times, I was too emotional, but this was a real learning experience for me.”

One of the key tactical dilemmas Xavi faced was adapting to the departure of Sergio Busquets, a player who had been the backbone of Barcelona’s midfield for over a decade.

“I made some mistakes in management. Busquets’ departure forced us to rethink our style of play. I chose to play with a midfield of three attacking players, but it wasn’t always the best option.”

Despite these difficulties, Xavi remains proud of the foundation he built at Barcelona.

He added, “Beyond the titles, I feel proud to have trusted a new generation like Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde… They represent the future of the club.”