Xavi: We cannot draw or lose games

Barcelona, Spain, Nov 8 (EFE).- FC Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez on Monday stressed that there is no other option than winning under his command as the new head coach as he officially replaced Ronald Koeman.

“We cannot draw or lose,” Xavi said during his presentation in front of 9,422 fans at the Camp Nou a couple of days after the club announced his return following his departure as a player over six years ago.

“I’m very excited, I don’t want to get emotional, this reception from the fans is impressive,” he added during the event, accompanied by the club president Joan Laporta.

Xavi, who spent 24 years as a Barcelona player, signed the contract that will link him with the Catalan club for the rest of the current season plus an additional two.

He ended his playing career at Qatar’s Al-Saad, where he embarked on the coaching journey that took him back to Barcelona to replace Koeman after the Dutch manager was fired due to poor results.

The 41-year-old told the reporters afterwards that he was aware of the sporting and economic challenges facing the club.

“I’ve been at Barça for half my life and when we drew or lost, this was a funeral,” he said.

“Here, losing has consequences. We are the best club in the world and we have to be excellent in everything.

“That is what I want to convey to the players,” he added.

Laporta, meanwhile, said that Xavi’s return would “mark the history of the club.”