Former Barcelona star Thierry Henry has today moved to reveal his appreciation for Blaugrana head coach Xavi.
As much, of course, comes fresh off a night to remember for the Spanish tactician on the continent.
After guiding his side into the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain in France’s capital, Xavi, in the end, oversaw an impressive 3-2 triumph.
In the process, the 44-year-old got the better of compatriot Luis Enrique, with his substitutions in particular having worked an absolute charm at the Parc des Princes.
Xavi, in turn, has been showered in deserved praise in the hours since, as calls begin to mount for the ex-midfielder to reverse his decision to depart Barcelona upon the season’s close.
One individual, though, of the opinion that Xavi should never have been put in the position to seek out an exit in the first place, comes in the form of Thierry Henry.
Speaking as part of his punditry role on CBS Sports (cited by Mundo Deportivo), the iconic Frenchman, who lined out alongside Barca’s headmaster at the Camp Nou, assured that Xavi has always been a good tactician:
“I don’t know what will happen with Xavi . But from one day to the next, Xavi has not become a better coach than he was. I always thought that Xavi was a good coach and he is a good coach. Now that the results have improved, everyone says he has to stay. A month ago, they said he had to go. No. That’s not how you talk to a coach.”
Henry then went on to highlight Mikel Arteta’s time at Arsenal as the perfect example of a manager being afforded time to build a project bearing fruit in the long run:
“Permanence matters. You can see it with Mikel Arteta . For two years, things were not going well at Arsenal. You give him time and he builds something. By the way, Xavi has already won La Liga.”
He also went on to add:
“What I am seeing these last two years, the number of young people who rose with him and he is not afraid to play them. When Klopp does it, everyone [hails him, saying] that he is not afraid to put young people in. Xavi is the same. He was already good before, he is still good.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
