In the past, Xavi said a coach must be a "seller of ideas."
Well, in his two weeks as Barcelona coach, the Catalan managed to sell the ideas he himself drank with love from the "great prophet" Johan Cruyff and his smartest student - Pep Guardiola.
Ahead of tonight's important game (Tuesday, 22:00) against Benfica, which could determine the identity of the Champions League quarter-final, Xavi comes with four advantages over his predecessor as Ronald Koeman: fan enthusiasm, consensus in the media and management, a more positive attitude of the players , And good luck.
In a 0-1 win over Espanyol, Barça played convincingly in the first 50 minutes, despite the limitations of the missing and unbalanced squad.
For the rest of the minutes, however, she was unlucky enough for Koman.
Memphis, who missed Pendel in a loss to Rayo Vallecano, withstood the pressure and scored from the penalty spot in the derby.
If during the Coman period almost every first kick of the opponent ended in the net, then on Saturday the Espanyol strikers missed three tremendous opportunities to equalize.
Against Benfica the Catalans will need more than luck.
If they do not win, it will be a professional and economic drama, which will hurt Xavi's project, which in the meantime has brought a lot of joy to the club after a difficult crisis.
Six years after leaving Barça, the best contact in its history has returned as a savior.
He even came back in a more stressful hat: the new Pep.
It is true that he does not have Puyol, Messi, Iniesta and himself, but in the meantime he shows the same personality.
First, because he has no problem ensuring and being very optimistic despite the poor construction of the group.
Second, that came with rules of conduct for the players, who know that beneath the smile of the new coach there is a determined sheriff.
This personality brought Danny Elbas back to the club, against the opinion of the management, who thought he was already too old.
Xavi knows the Brazilian is 38, but the winemaking and experience are worth the bet.
Let us bet: Alves, at an advanced age, will make fewer mistakes than 22-year-old Oscar Mingsa.
Xavi in training for Benfica, Photo: Reuters,
Friend and idol
"He restored our trust," they said in the locker room when Xavi arrived, and five of the players (Pika, Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Alba and Ter Stegen) know him as a teammate and will do anything for him.
For the rest of the players - this is no less than an idol.
"I do not expect a change in the method, but there is no doubt that with the arrival of Xavi, the atmosphere in Barcelona has become more positive," said Benfica coach Jorge Hassos.
Aside from his personality, Xavi has two traits that have made Guardiola one of the greats: an obsession with a style in which one does not give up the ball, no matter who the opponent is, and a life that revolves only around football.
From early morning to evening Xavi tries to sell the ideas, to impose discipline.
Meanwhile the players arrive much earlier for training, of course apart from Dembele who is having a hard time getting out of a circle of injuries and delays.
Xavi already knows the fans are with him.
Like in the derby, where they were equally happy about the victory and the fact that eight of the squad's 11 players were from La Messia academy.