LALIGA SANTANDER
Barcelona manager: Xavi has a plan, and there's no turning back
The roadmap to bring a Camp Nou midfield legend back to the club has been drawn up, and the dates for presentations and dugout debut have been set.
There is no turning back now. On Friday, Xavi Hernández agreed with Al Sadd to leave the club as of Thursday 4 November and return to FC Barcelona as their new first team coach. He will therefore, remain with the Qatari club for two more matches: Saturday’s against Al Ahli and on Wednesday against Al Duhail.
Two QSL matches in which Xavi will be able to bid farewell to the fans at home in the first, and offer the league title on a silver platter in the second, since if they beat second-placed Al Duhail away, it would have them six points clear.
Xavi ready to execute Barcelona return plan
The former midfielder has also managed to get the Qatari club to waive compensation for his departure. For this gesture of goodwill, Al Sadd would hope to see a reward in the form of a friendly match within two years with the famous Blaugrana team in Doha.
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In principle, it is expected that both his definitive departure with Al Sadd and his signing for FC Barcelona will be announced this coming Thursday, 4 November, or potentially the day before, after playing against Al Duhail, a match that takes place at 4.55 p.m. CEST (11.55 a.m. ET).
In any case, what is certain is that Xavi will travel to Barcelona on Thursday or Friday to be presented on Sunday 7 November after the match against Celta in Vigo, or Monday at the very latest.
Thus, the roadmap laid out does not include Xavi coming in earlier to be in charge for the Champions League match in Kiev or the league fixture in Vigo. Instead, he and his coaching team are already working to prepare for a few intensive weeks during the international break - as if it were an 'express' preseason - taking into account the handicap of having a group of ten to twelve national stars away. The challenge is to be as ready as possible for the derby against Espanyol at Camp Nou.
So, as Pep Guardiola said at his presentation in 2008: “Fasten your seat belts because we are going to have a good time." On 20 November at 9 p.m. CEST (3 p.m. ET) a new era begins.