Andreas Christensen talks Xavi, Busquets, playing in midfield, new manager search: “Would’ve liked him to stay”

Speaking in an interview with ViaPlay (TV3Sport.dk), Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen opened up on manager Xavi Hernandez’s decision to leave the club at the end of the season, claiming he would have preferred the 44-year-old to stay.

Christensen joined Barça in the summer of 2022 and has grown into a reliable member of Xavi’s team, although his minutes have taken a slight hit this season due to increased competition for places.

The 27-year-old Denmark international gave his two cents on the situation surrounding Xavi and his decision to step down at the end of the season, saying:

“You can only accept his decision, it’s his decision, but I would have liked him to stay. He took us to the league title last season and he brought me here, so I have a good relationship with him.”

“It’s sad [that Xavi is leaving], he brought me here which was my dream,” the Dane added.

Praising Xavi for the way he approached the game, Christensen remarked: “It’s hard to put concrete things into words about what coaches do. But it’s their behaviour, the feeling they give you and the way they see football. I want to watch football the way Xavi does.”

With names like Hansi Flick and Thomas Tuchel being linked with the Barcelona job, Christensen was asked about what type of manager he would like to see at the club. In response, he said:

“I would like the next coach to be like Xavi. The club’s style of playing football suits me perfectly, especially with the players we have. The club’s philosophy is one of the things I love most. I hope we get a coach who maintains the club’s identity.”

Even though Christensen is a centre-back, recent games have seen him being deployed as a defensive midfielder by Xavi, a role in which he has done quite well.

Barcelona have struggled with the lack of a quality No. 6 since the departure of Sergio Busquets and when Christensen was asked if he was the ‘new Busquets’, the Dane replied:

“I want to say that I’m very focused on it, not having to be the new Busquets. I don’t think there’s anyone who can. I grew up watching him. For me, it’s a little bit about finding a role that suits me.”

Discussing his role in the middle of the park, he added: “The two matches I played in, there is something I have to choose for myself. Whatever excuses come up, I have to choose them for myself in the time to come.

“But, what we find very important, or if we can deal with adverse situations, I am the one who should start. And I actually felt pretty good about it, considering things were moving so quickly. So now, I look forward to every game, just to also get a feel for it. But this is something we have.”