The Brazilian midfielder is in Sao Paulo concentrated with his National Team ahead of the double playoff date heading to Qatar-2022.
The Brazilian midfielder of FC Barcelona, Philippe Coutinho, assured this Monday that the legendary Xavi Hernandez He will do a “great job” as coach of the Spanish club, mired in an institutional and sporting crisis.
“Xavi was a great player, a great football idol, and now he is back home to Barcelona. I hope he will be very successful with the group we have, ”Coutinho said at a press conference in Sao Paulo, where he is preparing with Brazil for the double round of the South American qualifier for the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
“Be the person that he is, he will surely do a great job at Barcelona,” added the midfielder, who slowly resumed playing minutes after a serious knee injury suffered last December.
Coutinho assured that he was unaware that the Brazilian Football Confederation had contacted Xavi to be Tite’s assistant and assume the technical direction of the ‘Seleçao’ after the Qatar World Cup, according to the now Culé coach in his presentation with Barça this Monday.
“It takes me by surprise, I didn’t know it,” said the 29-year-old player.
After developing his award-winning career as a midfielder at Barcelona, Xavi took over from Ronald Koeman from the Netherlands almost two weeks ago after a string of poor results on Monday.
On his return to the Brazilian team after a year of absence due to his physical ailments, Coutinho declared himself “happy” and excited to face the games against Colombia on Thursday in Sao Paulo and against Argentina on Tuesday in San Juan.
“It’s like it’s the first time, that’s how I always face it when I’m here in the national team. It is always an honor to wear this shirt ”, he affirmed.
The midfielder, a World Cup in Russia-2018, said that he is recovered “one hundred percent” from his meniscus injury and “mentally stronger” after overcoming his ailments.
“We have important games, Colombia and Argentina, for which we are going to prepare to the maximum,” he said.
Undefeated leader of the tie, Brazil can seal its ticket to Qatar on the double date, the last one in 2021.
In the absence of six dates, the ‘Seleção’ leads with 31 points, followed by Argentina (25), Ecuador (17) and Colombia (16). Uruguay (16) occupies the fifth place, the playoffs with a selection from another confederation. (D)
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