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I’m not a big fan of revolutions. People nearly always call for them when a team that’s triumphed a great deal goes a year without winning anything. For me, however, the experience gained in previous victories is important. The rebuilding should be done in a measured way, without undoing what has already been accomplished. As we say in Catalan, you need to use seny (common sense). We have great players and, while some of them may have taken part in their last major competition, we should let them and the coach discuss the future, and not make rash decisions in the heat of the moment. I still believe that the current crop is very good and that there’ll be top quality players in the years to come. Right now we have to be strong, look to the future and learn from our mistakes.

Alcantara skrev: Han skal selvfølgelig ikke være en fast del af startelleveren mere, men en Giggs-lignende rolle vil passe ham perfekt. Han vil uden tvivl være en nyttig squad player. Spørgsmålet er så om han kan acceptere sådan en rolle.

Luis Enrique skrev:

Alcantara skrev: Han skal selvfølgelig ikke være en fast del af startelleveren mere, men en Giggs-lignende rolle vil passe ham perfekt. Han vil uden tvivl være en nyttig squad player. Spørgsmålet er så om han kan acceptere sådan en rolle.

Puyol er ellers en vældig begavet mand, men virkeligheden har jo overhalet hans udtalelse. Klubben har jo de facto iværksat, om ikke en revolution, men så alligevel en temmelig dybtgående ændring af truppen.

Set fra min stol findes der ingen optimale løsninger med Xavi. Han viste sidste år, at han er faldet for meget i niveau. Han vil næppe gøre gavn i nogen rolle, for de svære, store kampe har han ikke niveauet til længere, og de mere overkommelige kampe skal vel forhåbentlig bruges til at spare spillere som Rakitic og give yngre talenter chancen. Rafinha får forhåbentlig rigeligt med spilletid. På banen har jeg svært ved at se en brugbar rolle til Xavi, det må jeg sige.

En spilskaber skal pr. definition kunne opretholde et stort, fast løbepensum og fordele bolde. Det er svært at omtænke den rolle og de spillere, der har den position, ikke mindst når resten af holdet typisk er indstillet efter en sådan spilskaber. Det vil skabe for megen uro i vores spil, hvis man skiftevis skal omstille sig fra en dynamisk til en mere passiv spilskaber. Xavi viste jo sidste år, at han i foruroligende grad begyndte, kun at spille til siden og bagud. På andre positioner - f.eks. i midterforsvaret - gør det knap så stor forskel, om en spiller må reducere sit løbepensum eller sin direkte deltagelse i spillet. Costacurta og Maldini forfinede f.eks. blot deres positionering qua deres enorme rutine, og kunne dermed fortsætte trods et reduceret løbepensum. Det samme kunne Puyol gøre; på mange måder havde han været mere brugbar som rutineret back up, end Xavi.

Former Barcelona assistant Henk ten Cate, who has coached in Qatar, convinced Xavi that it was too early for him to move there. [ara]

Xavi has a calf muscle overburdening. It's not yet clear for how long he will have to recover. #fcblvie [fcb]

Barcelona midfielder Xavi could on Thursday give a press conference to explain why he finally decided to stay at the club this summer. [md]

Barcelona midfielder Xavi will tomorrow give a press conference to explain his decision to stay at the club this summer #fcblive #official

Xavi: "I ended the season in a bad way. Didn't feel useful when I was benched at Barça and ESP. I decided to quit and start something else"

Xavi: "I took that decision too quickly and after talking with Zubizarreta and especially Luis Enrique I have changed my mind." #fcblive

Xavi: "The stories about this being an economic decision are not true. It's a football decision, I feel useful and I think I can comepte."

Xavi: "Luis Enrique is really the key person in this story. We've talked openly. I start from zero, with the same chances as the others."

Official: Xavi announces that he retires from international football, he won't play with Spain anymore #fcblive

Xavi: "I have decided to retire from international football. I'm grateful for all those years. It has been a fantastic time." #esp

Xavi: "Will I be captain? It'd be an honour to replace Puyol. This morning, we have voted. We'll see what the result will be."

Heartbreaker skrev:Vildt nok, at man i en klub som Barcelona stemmer om, hvem som skal være anfører. Det troede jeg ikke, man gjorde.

Xavi: "Luis Suarez? Spectacular signing. One of the world's best strikers. He had an incredible season at Liverpool. I know him, great guy."

Xavi: "I'm not 20 years old anymore, but I still have the motivation of a kid." #fcblive

Xavi: "Alves? He's one of the best right backs in the world, if not the best. We'll see what the club decides." #fcblive

Xavi: "I have a contract for two more seasons, in that perspective nothing has changed." #fcblive

Xavi: "The people close to me are happy that I stay, my mother in the first place. My family and friends are all true Barça fans." #fcblive

Xavi: "I've been benched now, might be easier to accept it the season. Luis Enrique talked clearly. I'm here to help the team the way I can"

Xavi: "Psychologist in new staff? Think it's important, mindset is key is football. It'll help us a lot. All teams will have one soon."

Heartbreaker skrev:Vildt nok, at man i en klub som Barcelona stemmer om, hvem som skal være anfører. Det troede jeg ikke, man gjorde.

Jamie Carragher @Carra23
Xavi Hernandez retires from international football as the best central midfielder I've ever seen. What a player what a man!