When Xavi Hernandez sits down to talk about football, he gestures with the same precision, passion and rhythm he once passed with on some of the most important football pitches in the world.
Football is all in the mind, he explains. Control, control, control. Pass, pass, pass. A hand motion to his head is followed by a number of swift sideways movements left and right, replicating his irrepressible distribution of the ball to his teammates.
Those same hands have also lifted the greatest trophies in the game—including the 2015 UEFA Champions League final, in Berlin, as the winning captain of FC Barcelona.
“I believe that Atletico will take home the trophy,” said Xavi, in an interview with www.sc.qa in Qatar, as he looked ahead to tomorrow’s final in Milan between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. “I think this is the moment of Atletico.”
“They deserve it because of the work they are doing. Of course it is not the philosophy of play that I like the most, because they speculate and wait in defence, but I think this is the moment of Atletico Madrid.
“Football always gives you a second chance, and it is the same final as two years ago in Lisbon. Now we have the final in Milan and I think this is the time of Atletico Madrid.”
The midfielder, who has played and scored in numerous El Clasico matches, added that Real Madrid have the slight advantage of more final experience to draw upon: “The favourite in terms of history could be Real Madrid, as they have more experience in finals and these situations. So they have the edge in that regard. But I still believe and think that it will be Atletico Madrid this time.”
Discussing some of the players he most enjoys watching from each side in tomorrow’s final, Xavi added: “In Atletico Madrid’s team you have Koke, Saul, Griezmann, Fernando Torres… These are players with natural talent who can change a match in a moment.
“At Real Madrid you have Kroos, Modric, Isco, James, Bale, Cristiano, Benzema… All of them are spectacular players and we will see a fantastic final. I will watch it at home in Barcelona, and am looking forward to it.”
Having recently concluded his first season in Qatar, Xavi said he would also love to lift the Asian equivalent of the continental club competition.
“Why not in the future win an Asian Champions League with Al Sadd? It is very difficult, the Chinese and the Japanese compete there. There are Iranian sides, the Saudis and the Emiratis. They are teams with a lot of history behind them and an economic level which is important, but why not Al Sadd in the future again?” Xavi asks.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup and two-time UEFA European Championship winner also feels he has witnessed a significant improvement in Asian football.
“I think there has been important improvement in Asian football in the last few years, and it will keep growing because the economic side is strong and they can bring in football players of a high level.
“This has been shown in China with their investment in players. The Chinese push has surprised me, it is very strong and they are going above economic levels even of Europe. So I think Asian sides can compete in the future with European clubs at the FIFA Club World Cup.”
Although the legendary Catalan midfielder has started to develop his coaching side at Qatar’s Aspire Academy, he insists his ambitions on the pitch are not yet over. He is still looking to add further titles to the 28 trophies he has amassed with Barcelona and Spain.
“I never got tired of lifting trophies,” he says, smiling. “I am competitive by nature and I like to win. I love to compete and I have had the luck to be in Barcelona for so many years and win a lot of trophies—in the Spanish national team as well with one of the best generations Spain has seen.
“We won so many titles and trophies, and I was privileged in that regard and I want to bring that level of competitiveness here to Qatar.” (www.sc.qa)