Xavi Hernández began his new chapter as Netherlands head coach with a strong message for his players: the collective will always come before individual interests. Just days before his official debut against Germany in the Nations League, the Spanish coach explained the identity he wants to build.
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Xavi Hernández Sends a Strong Message in His New Role as National Team Coach
Xavi Hernández made his philosophy clear as Netherlands head coach ahead of his highly anticipated debut against Germany.
"Everyone has to understand that we are a group, we are a family. We don't want egos. The most important thing here is the group, the team," Xavi said during his first press conference after calling up the squad.
The 46-year-old former Barcelona coach, who is under contract through the 2030 World Cup, also made it clear that he wants his team to be defined by its intensity and ambition.
Xavi Wants His Team to Take the Initiative
Xavi's playing philosophy maintains several of the principles he has embraced throughout his coaching career. The Spaniard wants Netherlands to control possession, press high up the field and take risks defensively.
"I want people to see a team with passion, ambition and intensity," the coach explained, adding that his goal is to make his national team the protagonist on the field.
There will be limited time to implement his ideas. Xavi scheduled several training sessions ahead of the match against Germany, many of them behind closed doors to work on tactical aspects. However, he made it clear that the lack of preparation time will not be an excuse.
Van Dijk Will Remain Netherlands' Leader
One of Xavi's first major decisions was to maintain his confidence in Virgil van Dijk. At 35 years old, the Liverpool defender will remain captain of Netherlands.
"He is ready to compete, he is ready to be the leader, our captain," Xavi said, making it clear that he believes the defender still has what it takes to continue representing the national team.
The first challenge of this new era will come Thursday at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam against Germany, who will also begin a new chapter under Jürgen Klopp.
After that, Netherlands will face Serbia on September 27, Greece on October 1 and Serbia again on October 4.
With four matches in just 11 days, Xavi will face an immediate test as he looks to implement his ideas on the field and build a national team where, as he made clear from the start, the team will always come before individual egos.
