Xavi Hernández's booklet in Qatar

“The first thing to do is pray,” replies Al Wakrah's coach, Spaniard Tintin Márquez, when asked how to prepare for a match against Al Sadd. And rightly so, because the team led by Xavi Hernandez it is tyrannizing a Qatar Stars League (QSL) that it conquered four days in advance and without conceding a single defeat. After two decades as a footballer in which he learned from Louis Van Gaal, Luis Aragones or Pep Guardiola, coach Xavi germinates in Qatar. And, although his first months in the band gave him more displeasure than happiness, time has ended up proving him right and Al Sadd is now a practically perfect machine. “They are a step above the rest,” acknowledges Marc Muniesa, central Al Arabi.

When Xavi Hernández decided to hang up his boots, Al Sadd won a promising coach, but lost one of the best footballers in the history of Spain. And, although it sounds strange, Xavi missed himself. If it could have been cloned, it would have. It was for this reason that, after a year of transition and learning, the former Barça player went for Santi Cazorla. And everything changed. “Santi is the connection that he lacked between defense and attack. He has scored goals and assists and, in addition, he has pulled the car in the most difficult moments,” Muniesa discovers. “He's a marvel of a gamer. Every game he plays is a 'master class' for Qatari footballers. It is important to me that he arrived with that competitive spirit. He always wants to win, “adds Felix Sánchez, Qatar's coach.

Xavi Hernández believes that the more you have the ball, the closer you will be to victory. And under that premise and with all its gears at full capacity, Al Sadd began to function as what is expected of a team that has a world champion in the band. “This season there has been a very big difference. And not because of the demerit of the rest, but because of the merit of Al Sadd, who has been superior in terms of the game and results,” says Sánchez, who believes that both Xavi and his 'staff' , “they are reaping the fruits of their labor.” In the domestic championship, no team has been able to defeat the Doha side this season. “It's like the best time of Barça or Madrid. You enjoy them, less when you have to face them. You know that they will have 70% of the possession and many occasions”, Muniesa values. “Regardless of whether or not you get the idea right, you need to have a good day and they don't have it”, completes Tintín Márquez.

After 19 rounds played in the QSL, Al Sadd is the team with the highest score and the fewest goals, the one that shoots the most and the fewest concedes, reaching an average of 65% possession per game. All through an ultra-offensive proposal in which 3-4-2-1 is the protagonist. “Xavi has found the key and that is the system with which they feel most comfortable. They take many risks, but it clearly compensates them. Pedro and Hassan, who are wingers, are playing as centrals, although they do not lose their offensive projection. teams withdraw so much that even the centrals can join the attack. No one has been able to counter their proposal, “analyzes Félix Sánchez, who has included 12 Al Sadd players in the last call-up of Qatar. “They create superiority in the middle to play on the outside later. It is what Xavi has sucked both in the national team and in Barça”, adds Marc Muniesa, who coincided with him at Barça and now suffers him in Qatar: “We are neighbors and When we have to face each other, he says to me: 'Al Arabi again? Don't you get tired of losing?' We have a very healthy pique. “

After a first year of adaptation, Xavi Hernández is already beginning to be synonymous with a great coach. In fact, in just two years leading Al Sadd, the one from Tarrasa has already won six titles and he still doesn't know what it's like to lose a final. Fans of the Doha club yearn for their next big success to be in the AFC Champions League, while those of FC Barcelona hope that their big nights will soon turn Barça. “He is ready”, discovers Marc Muniesa. Félix Sánchez, for his part, believes that his departure “would be a great loss for Qatar”, although he would consider his signing for Barça “logical”. “Both Xavi and his 'staff' I consider friends and I wish them the best. Going to Barça can be a great opportunity. In the meantime we will continue to enjoy them at Al Sadd,” adds the coach. “I don't know what's going to happen in the future, but if Xavi can't be Barça's coach, nobody can be. He's made for that position,” concludes Tintín Márquez. All said.