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Xavi Should Be Given Time to Succeed as Barcelona’s Coach, Says Puyol

Xavi was named head coach after the club sacked Ronald Koeman earlier this month. (Reuters)
Xavi was named head coach after the club sacked Ronald Koeman earlier this month. (Reuters)
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Xavi Should Be Given Time to Succeed as Barcelona’s Coach, Says Puyol

Xavi was named head coach after the club sacked Ronald Koeman earlier this month. (Reuters)
Xavi was named head coach after the club sacked Ronald Koeman earlier this month. (Reuters)

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez should be given "time and confidence" to succeed at the Catalan club, former captain Carles Puyol said after his ex-team mate began life in his new role with a 1-0 home win over local rivals Espanyol.

Xavi, who played for Barcelona for 17 years and won 25 trophies, was named head coach after the club sacked Ronald Koeman earlier this month.

Given a contract until 2024, the 41-year-old made a winning start on Saturday with a victory over Espanyol that put Barcelona sixth in LaLiga on 20 points after 13 matches.

"I know Xavi very well and I know he has prepared himself very well. I am convinced that he will do very well," Puyol said.

"He has experienced moments as a player where we had difficult situations. Then we achieved great things with a great team.

"We had not won anything and then we won everything by playing very good football. So he knows exactly what to do, and you have to give him time and confidence."

Barcelona host Benfica in Tuesday's Champions League group match before playing at Villarreal for Saturday's league game.

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Swiatek Surprised at ‘Such Harsh Judgements’ After Indian Wells Ball Boy Incident 

Iga Swiatek of Poland shows her frustration to the umpire during her three-set defeat against Mirra Andreeva in their semi-final round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland shows her frustration to the umpire during her three-set defeat against Mirra Andreeva in their semi-final round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Swiatek Surprised at ‘Such Harsh Judgements’ After Indian Wells Ball Boy Incident 

Iga Swiatek of Poland shows her frustration to the umpire during her three-set defeat against Mirra Andreeva in their semi-final round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland shows her frustration to the umpire during her three-set defeat against Mirra Andreeva in their semi-final round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

World number two Iga Swiatek said she was not proud of the way she vented her frustration at Indian Wells, where she nearly hit a ball boy after smashing a ball into the ground, but added that she did not expect to receive "such harsh judgements".

The five-times Grand Slam champion was criticized heavily over the incident, which occurred during her 7-6(1) 1-6 6-3 semi-final defeat by eventual champion Mirra Andreeva on Friday.

"It's true - I expressed frustration in a way I'm not proud of. My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground," Swiatek posted on Instagram on Monday.

"I immediately apologized to the ball boy, we made eye contact, and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him.

"I've seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and frankly, I didn't expect such harsh judgements."

Swiatek added that the second half of last year was extremely challenging for her. She accepted a one-month suspension in November having tested positive for banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).

"When I'm highly focused and don't show many emotions on court, I'm called a robot, my attitude labelled as inhuman. Now that I'm more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I'm suddenly labelled immature or hysterical," Swiatek said.

"That's not a healthy standard - especially considering that just six months ago, I felt my career was hanging by a thread, spent three weeks crying daily, and didn't want to step on the court."