Xavi, who is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in history, joined Barcelona’s youth academy, famously known as La Masia, at age 11 and has won innumerable trophies with the club — including eight La Liga and four Champions League titles.
The former Barcelona captain has won nearly everything at international and club level. He left the La Liga side for Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015, where he played until 2019 and embarked on his new coaching career.
Three years later, after winning seven trophies as a manager, Xavi returned to Camp Nou to replace then head coach Ronald Koeman.
Koeman was heavily criticised for not living up to the standards whereas the Dutchman clapped back at Barcelona board for “not having his back.”
The former Barcelona defender was sacked, and immediately replaced by Xavi in November 2021.
In his first game in charge, Barcelona won 1-0 against Espanyol at home in La Liga.
However, Xavi’s side failed to qualify for Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2003. The Catalans finished third in their group, relegating them to the Europa League, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Eintracht Frankfurt.
Barcelona were dismissed to Europe’s second-tier competition once again after being drawn in the same group as Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in the Champions League this season.
“I say we need to win titles this season. I totally agree with Xavi,” Laporta told Barça TV.
The 60-year-old continued, “I am very lucky to have the best coach in the world, because Xavi, in addition to his great football knowledge, is a man who is always very interesting to listen to with his reasoning, who is also a club man and is very aligned with the club.
“We share moments together, and also we share much of everything that is being done, and I feel very accompanied and supported with Xavi and all his staff.
“They are people in whom we all have full confidence in their knowledge but also in their sense of the club, which is very important, very important.”
Xavi is yet to win a silverware with Barcelona. Nevertheless, the Blaugranas are sitting atop the La Liga table as yet, and will be desperate to snag at least one out of three possible trophies this season.