Former FC Barcelona midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez has backed Pep Guardiola to return to the Catalan club, at the ‘right moment’. .
With no experience of managing a club in top flight football, Pep Guardiola was a shock appointment in 2008-09 season, when he became the new FC Barcelona manager following the departure of Frank Rijkaard.
Guardiola went onto achieve incredible success in his debut season in which FC Barcelona won the treble for the first time in their history. The Catalan giants also became the first team to win every single trophy they competed for, that year.
‘Pep will return to FC Barcelona at the right time’
Barcelona playmaker Xavi enjoyed some of the finest moments of his career under Guardiola, winning 14 out of the 19 trophies he played for, as Barcelona dominated Europe with scintillating attacking football.
Xavi, now playing for Qatar side Al Sadd, told the club’s official website that Guardiola will return one day to the club when the time is right: “I enjoyed a very successful period with Pep at Barcelona and I know he’ll choose the right moment to return to the club”
‘How Casillas left Real Madrid, he deserved a lot better’
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas departed for FC Porto earlier in the summer, and Xavi reckons the manner in which he was treated by Real Madrid was disappointing.
“He’s a friend and one of the greatest in this sport. I’m disappointed with how he left Real Madrid, he deserved a lot better.”
‘Messi is the greatest player in the history of football’
Speaking to the Al Sadd official website, Xavi explained his stance in the age old debate over who is the better player between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He also explained that he spoke to former Real Madrid star Raul, who played for Al Sadd.
“Cristiano is a great player but Messi is the greatest in the history of football,” Xavi said.
“Raul only told me good things about his spell with Al Sadd. Everyone has treated me excellently,” he added.
“This team is like a family, that’s helped me to adapt. I’ve come to win trophies.”