Xavi Hernández was sorry to learn that Rijkaard will be leaving at the end of the season, but agrees that Guardiola was a wise choice to replace him. He considers two years without titles to be a ‘sporting crisis’.
Xavi Hernández had a serious look on his face as he faced the press on Friday. It was the day after
President Joan Laporta had announced that Frank Rijkaard is to be replaced by Josep Guardiola on
the Barça bench, and the third choice captain said that “we the players feel very guilty
about everything that has happened, we think we could have done much more to stop things from
coming to this …. But there has never been a lack of attitude or the right working mentality
… everybody is responsible for this situation, but the main ones to blame are the players.
The board has done all they can, we had some great players but didn’t have a great
team”.
Bad season
Unlike previous weeks, this time Xavi accepted the team had gone though what he described as
a sporting crisis. “The club can’t go two seasons without winning anything, so for that
reason I have to say it’s a crisis” he admitted. “A fortnight ago there
wasn’t one, but it seems that you lot (the press) were expecting one”. Xavi had to
acknowledge that it has not been a good season. “We gave it all we could, we made it to the
semi finals of the Champions League and the Cup, but in the League we have not lived up to
expectations. I don’t like having to talk of failure, but it has been a poor season”.
Rijkaard’s mark
Xavi Hernández seemed especially sorry to have to discuss Rijkaard’s exit. “He
deserves the very best. He treats people marvellously, he talks about things, he’s kind, and
nobody could wish him any harm. He sets an example on all levels, as a coach and as a person; he
has left his mark on the squad … If he had won things he would have stayed. Football
isn’t fair, but that’s the way it works.” The player from Terrassa was asked what
Rijkaard’s mood had been like in training, and replied that “he was serene and calm and
asked us to play our last two games with dignity”.
Guardiola, a fine decision
Xavi was forced to confess that “when things go badly, it is only logical for changes
to be made.” And he is pleased with the "right decision" to bring Guardiola on board. The two
actually played together in the past, and Xavi feels “he is somebody with a strong
personality and has all the experience in the world because he has witnessed Barça in so many
different senses. As a footballer his was a major presence both in the dressing room and on the
pitch." Xavi ended by saying that “Rijkaard has left his mark and we hope that Guardiola, as
he did as a player, can do likewise as a manager”.
To view this content you need the latest version of the Flash Player
Impotence at the Bernabéu
Xavi was sent off in injury time at the Bernabéu after repeated protests hurled at match official
Pérez Burrull. Said the Catalan midfielder “I felt really impotent because not only were we
having a poor game, but the refereeing was dreadful. I can’t argue that we got our tactics
all wrong and I don’t like discussing referees, but he made mistakes in three of the four
goals”.