He November 8, 2021the day of the presentation of Xavi Hernandez as new Barça coachthe Terrassa coach has already said, on several occasions (I have reviewed the texts and the quote appears up to five times) that “Barça is the most demanding club in the world, here only winning is worth it, it is not worth drawing or losing.”
That chant has accompanied Xavi throughout the 100 games he has coached from the culé bench. And he has accompanied him both in statements before the meetings and after. And, of course, yesterday, before visiting Granada, Xavi returned to the topic and did so as if we journalists were to blame for that label.
The most demanding? I don’t know
No, Mr. Hernández, if Barça is the most demanding club in the world (I would like to know what the coaches of the club think about that Manchester City, MUnited, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, River Plate…) it is not due to his criticism, to his press, to the journalists who report on the day-to-day life of the culé entity.
I say this, because every time you make that argument you imply that the fault lies with the press that criticizes your actions, but, just to remind you of a detail, it was you and the club that put up for sale De Jong, it was you who undervalued, not the media, critics, partners and/or followers. We only tell what happens and the things we find out about.
But it was you, all the greats, all those who made Barça immense for more than 100 years, who gave it the label and, I’m sorry, the demand, to not only win but play beautifully, wonderfully, preciously, with that style that, by the way, has now just been criticized by himself Ernesto Valverde (“U.S. with Johan Cruyffwe put Alexando at 9 and threw crosses at him”), with all the reason in the world.
It is you, those of the house, who have turned Barça into something that cannot fail, infallible. What’s more, I have already commented on it more than once, you yourself are suffering in your flesh all that beautiful, triumphalist speech with indestructible DNA, because you have won many (63) of the 100 matches you have directed, many, and even a brand new and wonderful League title, but you are criticized because you have abandoned the 4-3-3 and, furthermore, you do not always play beautifully.
But that happens, Mr. Hernández, not because Barça is the most demanding club in the world (there are already those who tell me that you are very cunning when you express yourself in these terms and I share that idea) but because you have clung to that label. as if it were, no, sorry, which it is: The Holy Grail.
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I repeat, when he says, that he will say it many more times, that Barça is the most demanding club in the worldlook at the box, which is the one that demands titles and ‘jogo bonito’ (well, that less and less), but don’t use that tagline to throw it at the audience, because the journalists, the commentators, the talk shows and even the fans It is not your fault that you, the creators of the ‘Barça miracle’, invented that you can only win in one way: by playing football wonderfully well.
So, hold that cross, but don’t place it on our shoulders.