Xavi insists he would be more successful in managing his former club

Barcelona legend Xavi thinks he perfectly fits the role of the club’s manager taking into consideration the pressure on current boss Ernesto Valverde after the 2-0 loss over Granada. The 39-year-old believes his closeness with former team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez would enable him to succeed in this position and balance the midfield problems. Xavi told Spanish outlet Ara: “I don't know if it will be a bridge to Barca. The only thing that worries me now is doing well here, winning titles and making mistakes in some aspects to learn for the future. It wouldn't be a problem (to manage former team-mates). I know what Leo is like, and Luis (Suarez), Sergio Busquets, Jordi (Alba), (Gerard) Pique or Sergi (Roberto). I know how they train, their capacity for leadership, I can tell if they are sad or angry. “I hope as a coach I could have three, five, eight or 10 players that I already knew and that I already had a good relationship with. (Messi) is a player who, if you convince him, he can even be a brilliant defender. He has physical and mental speed. He has everything. If you convince him to run, what will the others do? They will run twice as much. The problem in the midfield is that nobody is doing any defensive work, so they suffer when they have to retreat. The coach is very important, but without the players there is nothing to do.”

Real Madrid intend to sign Manchester City star at the end of the season