Laporta: “I want Xavi to continue”

Joan Laporta did not hide his devotion to Xavi Hernandezwhich he values ​​so much to the point that he wishes he could reverse his decision to leave the Barça at the end of the season another year of the contract. This was revealed in an exclusive interview with World of sports. Because of this, he will wait until the end of the season to move to find a replacement in case of a backout from Terrassa.

And how many times have they told Xavi since then: ‘think, Xavi, don’t rush’?

I have something to say, we didn’t discuss it. I already told him that all the coaches want to go to Barça, but we are not going, at least I am receiving proposals from all sides, and I said this to Xavi: ‘We respect the fact that you are here until at the end of the season. It’s your decision. We are doing well, we are getting better. Look, since you said, that’s it, you’ve won again and we winked at each other as if to say something could happen here. It is like this, it is better and the goals are achieved.

Do you want Xavi to continue?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, he already knows it, but he notices it. I want him to continue, but I told him at the time, when he talked about the pressure, that here we are always under pressure in your experience.. I asked him if there was a way to change his mind, but saw I saw him with an insurmountable pressure that could be seen on his face, so I told him to relax if he saw it that way. He keeps saying that at the end of the season he will leave as we agreed, but we will see. Let’s not beat ourselves up because so far this formula is working. Therefore, we can still say no, no, no, and…

You don’t stop asking him, do you?

Depending on how the season goes, he already knows. And he has a point that he wants to win to end this phase with glory or think about it or move on,

In any case, Xavi was denied the confidence they give to very young players. You have to be brave to put your prestige in the hands of 16 and 17 year olds.

This is one of the positive aspects of Xavi as a coach. He will be remembered for this and hopefully for many more things. He had the courage. Xavi comes from La Masia and always says one thing: ‘La Masia never lets you down. This refers not only to talent, but also to what you have to give to a game. Lamine, Fermín, Cubarsí, Fort, Balde, Gavi, Pedri or Araujo. The other day he made his debut in the League for Casadó, who has already had many call-ups. It should be known to Xavi that nothing is improvised. Xavi told us he would make Casadó play at that time. He played in Antwerp. It didn’t go well, but it wasn’t because the kid didn’t play well because he came out for a while and was very good. And against Atlético he came out for a few minutes and gave the level expected of him. Xavi has everything studied and planned. It is from his personal experience to decide when a player should enter.

Obviously you want Xavi to continue but if he keeps his word, what coach profile does the Barça president want?

Here we have very clear. The coach that is coming will have to adapt to our structure. This is how Barça should work. It cannot be that every time a coach comes, the structure changes and that will be a basic premise. Barça is above coaches, players, presidents, directors. I have the honor and responsibility to defend the interests of Barça and it is very important now that a sports structure has been built that works better and better. It is very difficult to achieve this and it has been done based on the level we have, with worldwide recognition as the best quarry in the world that produces the best players. It must be consistent because there is a technical secretary, a football director who makes decisions for signings in a very coordinated way and in full agreement with the coach and the technical staff. There are several analysts, scouts, coaches and professionals working to do this and the new coach will be given a manual and see what we have at Can Barça and what he needs to take advantage of and move on. Beyond the fact that he will have his ideas of football, which should fit closely with the idea of ​​football that we have, the true way of playing that Barça has, which we think is the best to compete and win. Sometimes they say our system is outdated. I do not share this opinion. We cannot compete in running with teams that are more physical than those that run. We compete for possession and sometimes I find Premier games really attractive because it’s a give and take and in broken games we go to play there and we give them a shake. I have very clear. I watch quite a lot of Premier League games but in our football system we give them a shake.

One coach who knows the script very well is Luis Enrique.

Luis is a person that I like very much, he has character, personality, he is very good, very his and I like this type of people. But we didn’t talk to Luis or anyone because of the respect we have for Xavi. You will tell me, well, but it must be decided before because all the coach agents tell you this. I say that anyone who wants to go to Barça has to wait until the end because we will not bring anything until Xavi makes a decision. If he makes the decision to leave, those who really want to go to Barça will have to wait and wait. If they don’t wait, nothing will happen, we have a solution.

You are friends with Pini Zahavi and he hired Hansi Flick. Did he tell you about him?

What do you think?

It doesn’t stop. He is free in the market.

Apart from being great professionals, I am friends with Pini and Jorge Mendes. They are the agents I know best in my past. I have a very good relationship, but you know what I’m saying: ‘Don’t force me because Xavi will be with us until the end.’ We will wait for Xavi’s decision and then we will see. They don’t wait, so don’t wait. We must continue our path and be consistent with this formula that we have adopted, which at the moment is working and I think it is not due to luck but to the experience that Xavi has in these things, who has seen that this formula may be useful and then in the process of maturation of this group. We continue with the injuries. The other day, four starters did not play: Frenkie, Pedri, Cancelo and Balde. And he was replaced by players like Sergi Roberto, who has touch, Gündogan is sensational, Fermín is very good in coming and goal. Robert is a professional and always gives us something. He was the first to bemoan the lack of the other season but he made an important effort. He is someone who takes great care of his body and is now scoring or providing an assist in every game. I’m not talking about the defense, which now has a package with Cubarsí, Araujo, Christensen as a pivot, Hèctor Fort at 17 years old which tells me it’s over.

For the president of Barça, he is excited to see a player like Cubarsí?

Yes, I want to see Pau and his father and his uncle how they follow the player. And how direct, how clear and true they are. And the player himself has a personality… Even now, at the age of 16 when you hear him in recent interviews, he has personality and maturity… Xavi and Deco were also surprised by this. Xavi told me: ‘When I made my debut, I was nervous… And you see them, this generation, in this sense they have overcome it. Their talent is natural and not nervous, or maybe they bring it inside, but Xavi was the first to say: ‘I don’t notice them being nervous.’ That’s awesome.