Barcelona need people like Xavi Hernandez

One of the things that impacted me the most at Ajax was the number of club legends that formed part of the club's structure. Not just around the first team, but also in the offices and with the youth teams. The general director was and is Edwin van der Sar, while Marc Overmars was (and still is) the sporting director. 

Many days at the training ground the squad would divide itself into four groups: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards. The goalkeeper coach would work with the goalkeepers, but some days it was Van der Sar! The defenders worked with Jaap Stam, the midfielders with the coach, Frank de Boer, and the forwards with Denis Bergkamp. Each of those Ajax legends added something different and worked on getting the best out of the players in our specific opinions. They had a lot of respect among the players and when they spoke, they had our attention.  

I would love something similar to happen at Barça and, when I think about it, the name Xavi Hernandez always appears. It's not me who has to decide how and when, but I am sure that sooner than later Xavi has to be the Barça coach. Figures like him, like Carles Puyol, have too much capital to be wasted by the club. I can't think of a better way to transmit what Barça is that with guys like that -- although I am not saying that Quique Setien doesn't deserve the opportunity he's been given. 

My message is more structural, it's the concept. When I reflect on the figure of Xavi when the then president, Joan Laporta, took two decisions that made history: choosing Pep Guardiola in place of Jose Mourinho and, in the basketball section, Xavi Pascual ahead of  Ettore Messina. Both won the Champions League and the Euroliga respectively but, even above the titles, is the passion and knowing exactly where they are that earned them so much deserved success. And neither, in theory, had the experience for the role. Who can show Xavi what Barça means and how to manage a team like Barça? No one. He's been preparing since he was a kid. Barça need people like Xavi and to keep on learning from him.