Xavi perfectly embodies Barcelona’s characteristics and has improved the Catalan giants since taking charge, according to his Real Madrid colleague Carlo Ancelotti.
The pair will face off at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday in the third and final Clásico of the season, with Real Madrid 10 points clear at the top of La Liga.
Barcelona are five points behind, albeit one game less, in what has been a disappointing campaign for the club as a whole.
However, results have improved over the past two months, with Xavi – named Ronald Koeman’s successor in November – constantly transforming his side’s fortunes.
Since Xavi’s appointment, Barcelona have scored 34 points in 15 La Liga games, a record only surpassed by Real since (39 points).
Thursday’s 2-1 win over Galatasaray helped Xavi’s side reach the Europa League quarter-finals and extended their unbeaten streak to 11 matches.
It’s Barca’s longest streak since January 2020 under Ernesto Valverde, giving Xavi’s side some momentum for their clash with their Madrid rivals.
And Ancelotti, whose three defeats in five La Liga appearances for Barca are the worst against a La Liga side with Atletico Madrid, was impressed with Xavi’s work.
“Barcelona’s identity has not changed,” he said in Saturday’s pre-match press conference. “It’s a team with a very clear style and Xavi embodies it perfectly.
“Barcelona have improved a lot and are in a good dynamic. I think they are doing very well.”
Xavi is still at the start of his coaching career, especially compared to bench veteran Ancelotti, with Sunday’s clash his second taste of this historic game as manager.
The midfield legend is aiming to avoid becoming the third Barca manager, after Ernesto Valverde and Ronald Koeman, to miss his first two derbies this century.
A loss to Barca would leave them 18 points behind the leaders, but Ancelotti insists the game in the Spanish capital is not decisive for the visitors.
“If we win, we have three more points; if we draw, one; if we lose, none,” he said. “I wouldn’t rule out Barcelona anyway, no matter what. Because they will fight until the end.”
If Barca avoid defeat, Xavi will become only the second Barca manager to go unbeaten in their first 10 away games in La Liga, after Ernesto Valverde who went unbeaten in 18.
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