Xavi's first contact as Barcelona's new manager was a huge success, and even in such a massive event for the former midfielder, Lionel Messi's name emerged during his first appearance in front of the Spanish media outlets.
The eight-time La Liga winner with Los Blaugranas spoke about Messi's absence from the team, and while he admitted to have regrets for not being able to coach him, Hernández revealed the contents of a brief conversation he had with "La Pulga" before he took over as the team's coach.
"Yes, I missed out on the chance to coach Messi. But I was not able to coach Eto'o or Ronaldinho either. We cannot keep thinking about the players that are not with us anymore. In fact, Messi sent me a message to wish me good luck in this new job," Xavi stated.
The 41-year-old coach revealed part of his plan to turn things around for Barcelona, who are currently ranked ninth in La Liga with one game in hand.
"It's a matter of order and rules. Like in every company, when you have rules, things go on just fine. When you don't have rules, things are more complicated. We just have to set our rules and follow them through. It is not a matter of discipline, it is a matter of order. We don't need to be that tough," the coach added.
The former midfielder also shared how he will try to help the young talented players that have been hired by the club to help them understand what it means to be a Barcelona player in order to see them thrive with the Catalan club.
"My idea is to help them. It is hard to be a Barcelona player. The psychological aspect is really tough. I am here to help them on a personal and on a professional level. I plan to talk to them and work as a team," Xavi concluded.
The former footballer signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the club, which expires with the 2023-24 season. Only time will tell if he can honor that commitment or if his success as a coach earns him a contract extension with his beloved club.
