BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez believes a new era is starting at the club after Sergio Busquets said this week he will leave in the summer at the end of his contract.
The defensive midfielder was a key part of the club’s glorious era of success, winning three Champions Leagues, and he can clinch his ninth La Liga title if Barcelona beat Espanyol on Sunday.
Busquets played as pivot behind Andres Iniesta and Xavi in an iconic midfield trio, and the three of them also won the World Cup with Spain in 2010.
However, the coach said he hoped the likes of Pedri and Gavi could beat anything he, Iniesta and Busquets achieved at Barcelona.
“We are working on forming a new (era),” Xavi told a news conference Saturday.
“I hope players like Gavi, and Pedri, can even go beyond us, that is life, that is sport.
“I hope they can surpass us, I hope. There’s a very good batch, home-grown players and midfielders especially.
“I hope they follow in Busquets’ footsteps and can achieve as much success as he has, a new era is beginning.”
Busquets, 34, has played over 700 times for Barcelona and lifted 31 trophies. However his highest ever finish in the voting to win the Ballon d’Or was 20th, in 2012.
“He’s the best defensive midfielder I’ve ever seen,” continued Xavi.
“Not being nominated for the Ballon d’Or, for me it was an injustice.”
Busquets has said previously he prefers to concentrate on silverware rather than individual accolades and Sunday offers Barcelona the chance to win La Liga for the first time since 2019.
“We’re at 200 percent,” said Xavi ahead of the clash with Catalan derby rivals Espanyol in Cornella.
“I’m seeing them train at full pelt with hope, desire and intensity, to win La Liga.”
A new Barca era is starting after Busquets — Xavi
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A new Barca era is starting after Busquets — Xavi
- The defensive midfielder was a key part of the club's glorious era of success, winning three Champions Leagues
- "I hope they follow in Busquets' footsteps and can achieve as much success as he has, a new era is beginning," Xavi told a news conference Saturday
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi grounded in Qatar amid intensifying Iran war
- Al-Khelaifi has been trying to return to Paris ahead of PSG’s Champions League round-of-16 match against Chelsea on Wednesday
- He was trying to get a flight out of Doha on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morningWEST SAI
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been left stranded in Qatar amid the war in the Middle East.
Al-Khelaifi has not been able to fly out of Doha for more than a week, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on the condition on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Flights in and out of the Middle East have been impacted by the Iran war, which began the US and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
Al-Khelaifi has been trying to return to Paris ahead of PSG’s Champions League round-of-16 match against Chelsea on Wednesday. He was trying to get a flight out of Doha on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, the person said.
With only limited space available on commercial flights, passengers have been left waiting until close to take-off if they have been approved to fly.
The ripple effects of the war have spread across the Middle East and beyond with Iran launching retaliatory strikes in the Gulf states. It has upended travel across the region, stranding hundreds of thousands of people.
Airports in the Gulf serve as critical hubs connecting travelers going to Europe, Africa and Asia. Airspace closures have seen many carriers forced to either cancel flights or shift to longer routes.
Last week US citizens described frustrations and growing fear as they encountered closed airports and canceled flights.
But there have been signs that flight disruptions are easing.
The British government said Tuesday that the number of commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates to the UK was returning to normal levels.
The Foreign Office said 32 flights operated from Dubai to Britain on Monday and another 36 were scheduled Tuesday. The British government has also operated a handful of chartered flights from Oman and Dubai, with more than 45,000 UK citizens returning from the Gulf since the conflict began.
PSG are the defending European champion and hosts Chelsea at Parc des Princes in the first leg of the round of 16 tie. The teams play again in London next week.
