Often the many virtuosos of European football, those of Barcelona included, continue to assess their rival coaches and teams from other countries as well as their own.
In practicality, it lets them stay up to date with their most dangerous opponents and their varying tactics beyond simply just watching the games for fun as most fans typically do.
Whether it’s the praise of a direct rival or a curious coach from another league altogether, receiving acknowledgment from a European adversary and old companion can go a long way in showcasing appreciation for someone.
According to a recent interview that MARCA conducted with Spanish manager Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal head coach spoke highly of Xavi Hernandez and the work he has done with the Catalan coach.
Having coached the English Premier League side hailing from London, Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta have together managed to reassemble a team willing to compete against the very best again.
Having almost gone toe to toe with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City until the very end for the Premier League title, the Gunners would ultimately fall just short of their rivals from Manchester, yet it leaves a blueprint that could potentially be quite successful for the London-based outfit.
When asked to comment about Xavi Hernandez, he went on to state:
I’ve known Xavi since we played together at Barça. Just knowing his character and how he feels about the game made it clear that Barça needed a figure like him.
He also went on to state:
“Xavi has been able to handle the pressure and stay true to his ideas, defending the club and the players. The team was very solid all year. Barça needed a person like him.”
Arsenal and FC Barcelona are slated to partake in a friendly game against one another in the upcoming pre-season in the United States of America. Scheduled for a game on the 26th of July, it will undoubtedly be a fascinating clash to watch.
