Few legends of the game have as much impact on Barcelona as Spanish icon Andres Iniesta. One of the heroes of the golden age of the club, the Spaniard’s influence is unmatched by most players. Now a retired veteran, Iniesta was once part of the legendary Barcelona midfield that won the sextuple and much more.
Following his recent retirement from the game, a lot of rumors have been spread regarding what the player could have in store for his future. Most of it has been mere speculation, and the rumors that continued to spread did not have any backing from the Barcelona icon himself.
Now, however, he has decided to come forward in a recent interview that has taken place following his retirement to answer some of the general public’s biggest questions about him and his future. As highlighted by MARCA, here are Iniesta’s answers to questions as rumors of his future as a possible manager himself continue to grow.
Asked about the possibility of following in the footsteps of his former teammates Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas as a potential coach, Iniesta’s answer was respectful yet uniquely his own:
“I keep in touch with both, and we’ve been talking. Both of them chose that path. You need to rediscover that excitement and those challenges, to want to improve, to want to do better. They’ve already got their experience, but I haven’t even started yet.”
Andres Iniesta was then asked to highlight things from former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque that he would consider to be good lessons for coaching:
“I could tell you many things about Pep, but above all, his teams reflect what he thinks and transmits… From Vicente, above all, I’d highlight his group management.”
The former Barcelona midfielder was also asked to address the comparisons that have been made between him and Pedri, to which he gave a rather straightforward reply:
“We always like to make comparisons. It would be great if we saw Pedri as Pedri, not as the next ‘so-and-so.’ He’s going to create his own path and history. And he’s doing it very well. His talent is incredible; he just needs to keep growing.”
Next, as the former World Cup winner was talking about La Masia, he made sure to give credit to both Xavi Hernandez and Hansi Flick for making the best use of the homegrown talents:
“I’d say that recognition or satisfaction for a job well done isn’t just down to the academy. It’s the result of many years of work, and it’s also due to the coaches who believe in it. Xavi did it in previous years, and this year, Flick is doing it. We’re happy about it.”
As for his legacy itself, Andres Iniesta stated that he was always true to himself no matter where he was: “I’ve been respectful of my profession and the institutions I’ve represented. From there, I’ve tried to do things the way I’ve always believed.”
A true icon of Barcelona and the beautiful game itself, Iniesta’s departure is a big loss. However, with a possible future career as a manager still on the table, it may not take too much time for the legendary midfielder to be seen representing a top club at some point in the future.