Xavi Hernandez: Qatar is a very welcoming country

Xavi Hernandez has sparked more controversy with fresh comments praising the state of Qatar: “It is a very welcoming country.”

The 39-year-old brought his illustrious playing career to a close earlier this year and is now in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd, for whom he played after leaving the Blaugrana in 2015.

“My family is very happy because Qatar has given us everything,” Xavi told FIFA, as cited by Marca

“It is a very easy country to live, very comfortable, welcoming and safe.”

It follows similar comments from Xavi from September, as cited by 20minutos.es: “I do not live in a democratic country, but I believe that the system here works better than there [Spain].

“Here we have peace of mind, security…we have no house key, you leave the car running…Núria [Xavi’s wife] even tells me that if we can continue here it will also be better for our children. Both were born here. In Qatar people are happy.

“It is true that there is no democratic regime, but people are happy. They are delighted with the royal family, they carry his photographs in the car, he takes cares of his citizens.”

Xavi also spoke on his own coaching career: “I have a football vision in mind, because as almost everyone knows, I grew up with Barça and with the national team.

“I would describe myself as someone who likes to have the ball. I suffer if my team does not have the ball. When I started as Coach, I didn't think too much about the defensive side of the game.

“But now you suffer. You suffer when you don't have the ball. That 30-40 percent possession you don't have is when you have to work harder.”

Xavi made 767 first-team appearances for the Catalan giants between 1998 and 2015, alongside winning 133 caps for the Spanish national team.

He won eight La Liga titles alongside three Copa del Rey crowns and four Champions League trophies in his total of 25 titles with the club.

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