The ex-footballer and ex-coach Jorge Valdano analyzes Xavi Hernández in an interview with EFE, who will debut this Saturday as Barcelona coach in the derby against Espanyol as “the right man” to take command of the Barça ship, but he considers that “It remains to be seen if it arrives at the right time” to overcome the situation of the club culé.
“Each club has its own uniqueness and Barcelona is one of the few clubs that needs to rely on an idea to come back. the idea is Xavi’s. So he is the just man. We only need to know if it arrives at the right time“Asks the Argentine coach in a part of the interview he had with EFE as an ambassador for the digital education platform specializing in sports Oxygen.
For the Argentine commentator, the new Barça coach will face “a lot of interference” in his challenge at the head of the Barcelona team. “Too young players, too veteran players, a delicate economic situation that does not allow going to the market …”, but his “great advantage” is to represent that idea that Barcelona can follow.
The three lessons of Vinicius to football
As for the eternal rival, the Real Madrid, He who was a player, coach and manager of Madrid considers that the evolution of the Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, which this season has found its way to a goal that was lacking in other campaigns, with 9 goals and 7 assists in 16 games between LaLiga Santander and the Champions League, offers three lessons to the world of football.
“One lesson is even for professionals, not even for young people who intend to be footballers in the future: that reaching the highest level, you can continue learning. The second lesson is that you can keep learning everything, even a subject as particular as that of the scorer, that of scoring goals, which gives the feeling that it is a gift that is brought from the cradle. In any case, gifts brought from the crib can be improved along the way“says Valdano.
The third lesson of the evolution of Vinicius has to do with his style of play. “The determined player, brave to make mistakes and keep insisting, is the player who makes his way. Talent we have always known that by itself it is not enough To conquer all space, you need effort, but you also need a purely psychological virtue, which is the decision, “says the Argentine.
“The de a guy who makes a mistake, heals immediately and the next play goes with the same faith to search, to repeat the error if necessary. We had seen that in Raúl, who had brought it from the first hour and now, to some extent, we are seeing it in Vinicius “, he concludes.
Messi, PSG and the horizon of Qatar 2022
Valdano observes Lionel Messi’s first months at Paris Saint-Germain French in a process of adaptation, but reiterates that “he is still the genius of always”, and considers that he will continue “very connected to football” with the challenge of playing the Qatar World Cup 2022 with the Argentine team on the horizon.
“The World Cup is a challenge that I think continues to renew from time to time. And also because the Argentine team has ended up creating a group where it also feels really important, because it is, “says Valdano, who considers that the Copa América won months ago, his first title with the ‘Albiceleste’ has allowed to “draw out” your emotions.
“We see him cry, that is very good for health, even for football. It gives the feeling that it is related in another way with the Argentina jersey, something that for him was critical, “says Jorge Valdano.