Original subtitles

[gentle music playing]

DOHA NOVEMBER 7TH 2021

[Xavi] It was my third time in Barça.

Mateu Alemany came to Doha with Rafa Yuste.

I spoke to Nuria, my wife, with my family...

Mainly about staff issues. It was time.

She asked me for tickets for Barça-Benfica.

[Yuste] It's a match that could get us...

[Xavi] Mathematically qualified.

It's a key match for the future of the team.

Because missing out on the championship... It can't happen.

We're very excited... And listen, it'll be fine.

We have to get our ideas across and set things in motion.

It was unanimous. Which is unbelievable in football,

there's never something everyone agrees on.

- [Xavi] Yes. - [Alemany] It's a fandom so...

There's a lot of excitement now and that creates expectations.

Next it's just a matter of results.

But like Òscar says, we're incredibly excited

to come back home with such a beautiful project...

They give you the time and confidence to do it.

Very happy. Now's the time.

BARCELONA NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021

[indistinct chatter]

[fans chanting] Xavi! Xavi! Xavi! Xavi!

[loud cheering]

[music playing on speakers]

Xavi! Xavi! Xavi! Xavi!

[Xavi] Thank you very much. I don't want to get emotional, but...

[cheering]

[fans] Xavi! Xavi! Xavi! Xavi!

I'll just say one thing, like I said before I left,

we're the best team in the world.

[cheering]

[commentator 1, in Spanish] The one who really counts is Xavi Hernández.

The general of Barça football.

Amazing. [laughing]

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG STRIKER

[commentator 2] Messi, Xavi, Fábregas...

[Aubameyang, in French] Everyone knows him

as one of the best players in the world,

the engine of Barcelona, the "Tiki Taka."

[fans] Xavi! Xavi!

[in Spanish] His iconic play

was him spinning on his heel so the rivals could hardly see him.

Xavi had a gift just like Leo, always being in the right position

to receive a pass alone and not lose the ball.

[commentator 1] Messi's looking for the right angle to the zone,

what a pass he managed to make to Xavi!

Messi. Goal from Barça! What a goal!

He'd look before receiving, it's amazing.

He'd look back to see who was marking him and be able to control it.

It was incredible to watch, he's one of my idols.

[Eric] I remember Barça's golden years when Pep Guardiola was here.

That center field line-up with Busi, Xavi, Iniesta...

How well they played.

[commentator 1] Barça's captain, Xavi Hernández.

[fans] Xavi! Xavi! Xavi!

[cheers and applause]

We'll be very dedicated,

very dedicated to win.

Barça can't afford to tie or lose, it has to win every match.

[theme music playing]

FC BARCELONA - A NEW ERA

BARCELONA NOVEMBER 8TH, 2021

[indistinct chatter]

[Xavi] Barça is my home, I carry it in my heart.

I'm a Barça supporter, I wanna help this team and I won't stop.

I'll work until I turn this whole thing around...

Ansu, how are you? Good? Yeah?

Lighten up, come on.

And I come here as excited as possible.

[laughter]

Piqué, Xavi Hernández.

[Xavi] I'm here to help you, but I'm gonna get things in order.

We have to give a lot more effort, we have to aim for excellency.

Great isn't enough. It's not.

I've lived through it, I know it's hard. I know it's hard to be a Barça player.

We're on Barça, we're privileged.

You have to value you're on Barça.

For Barça you give it your all. You have to win.

Work and effort. We're Barça.

Okay?

The main goal was to save the season somehow

and qualify for the Champions League, whatever it took.

XAVI HERNÁNDEZ COACH

The team was in ninth place at the time.

Below minimum requirements, a risky situation, in football terms,

not to mention economically.

But I'm surprised to find many players

that have been here for years and have trouble stepping up,

understanding where their teammates are, finding a free player,

understanding who's the third player to play head-on...

It was a mid-season reboot with a lot of urgent issues to solve

and it was hard to change the gameplay model.

Cover the passing line, make them play there or play long.

If he plays long, number nine and wings, go here.

Do a sprint! We apply pressure there.

Come on, Gavi! Come on, Jordi! Come on, Gavi, that's it!

There, Gavi, that standoff! That standoff, man!

[Alba] It's been many years since we last played together,

but it's exciting to have a coach who's also been a teammate.

JORDI ALBA DEFENDER

He's more demanding than any other coach.

[Busquets] We talked, he and I, in his office, as a captain,

and he was surprised about the lack of rules.

SERGIO BUSQUETS MIDFIELDER

Ten push-ups, everyone. 0-0.

[Busquets] And it was very important to him to have order,

to have rules to help us,

which would be implemented from that moment on.

First feint, then feint, then go!

[Pedri] I think things are clearer for Xavi.

He knows how he wants to play,

what he likes, what he did in the field.

PEDRI MIDFIELDER

I think it shows when he teaches that to the players.

[Xavi] Earlier, Gavi, get it first, get it first, Gavi!

There's no time! That's it, get it first! That's it! Keep going!

[Gavi] He's especially demanding on midfielders,

about looking before receiving, always, and on staying on the side.

GAVI MIDFIELDER

[indistinct instructions]

MARC-ANDRÉ TER STEGEN GOALKEEPER

[indistinct shouts]

[cheering]

XAVI'S FIRST MATCH AS BARÇA'S COACH

[commentator 2 in Spanish] From Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, Barça-Espanyol.

Xavi Hernández makes his debut.

PRE-MATCH AGAINST RCD ESPANYOL TALK

In every match, we, as a team,

and me, as a coach as well, we'll face challenges,

besides the three points, evidently.

But besides the three points, we'll have some challenges.

[Alba] When he came, he said there'd be challenges

and honestly we didn't really know what he meant.

I think it's positive and extremely motivational for you. Look.

Well, I think he did it to motivate the team, as an incentive.

For the Christmas holiday there's a 5 day break.

Okay? If we win today,

you get one more day, the 27th.

You could go to Disney... Okay? No? All right.

You can rest, be with your family, lovers, whatever, okay?

[laughter]

Second challenge.

If we score two goals before minute 30,

I'll buy you dinner wherever you want,

at Ferran, Salvaje...

I don't know, I haven't been in Barcelona these past six years. Wherever you want.

Do you agree? All right, nothing to lose, right?

[laughter]

In the end, the goal is to win, to get those three points,

and to give extra motivation so they give 200% from the very start.

Look, three more things and I'll get off your backs.

Control your emotions, guys.

Ninety minutes with 11 soccer players.

They're going to provoke us, the referee... We know Espanyol.

Okay? Secondly, like I've told you, run like animals.

You have to bite. This is Espanyol, it's a derby.

The audience is with us.

People have hope. The hope is back.

In those first minutes give it your all.

Third, and for me the most important thing,

try stuff, guys. The pressure is on me and the staff.

Try stuff. We have very young people...

Soccer is trying over and over and over.

The pressure is on me.

I told you, I'll defend you to death in the press conference.

Play with your minds at ease.

Come on, let's go.

[applause]

[commentator 1] Barça's anthem is playing,

the Barcelona and Espanyol players run into the field.

Barcelona's derby, and Xavi Hernández as coach.

[commentator 2] Greeting Barça's players,

Espanyol does the same in this derby.

[whistle blows]

[commentator 3] A new era has begun,

Xavi's era as Barça's coach,

and he does so on a very special day, the derby.

The ball is in play.

[commentator 1] Sergio Busquets... Gavi comes in, Gavi up front.

He seeks the pass... Memphis... didn't get an opening.

And the referee calls for a penalty.

[commentator 4] There's the penalty.

[commentator 1] Here's Memphis.

Memphis shoots...

- Goal! - [commentator 4] All right, all right.

[exclaiming]

[whistle blows]

[commentator 1, in Spanish] End of match! Barça wins.

[clapping and exclaiming]

[player, in Spanish] Right!

[all cheering]

[player] All right, Marc, damn!

[indistinct chatter]

Pedri, Pedri, come here, man! Pedri!

Get in here, man.

[indistinct chatter]

[Xavi] I hadn't been to Camp Nou in six years

and I've noticed a huge change fandom-wise.

It's cheerful, even when we suffered

the fans kept singing and cheering.

We've created hope with this new project

and people are getting into it.

[crowd clapping in rhythm, cheering]

[reporter] I imagine that's a good thing.

You'd never imagine a team like Barcelona,

that has always been in the Champions, to be missing in that league.

I'm very optimistic and I see tomorrow as a new chance.

If the opposite happens, then we'll get ready for that scenario.

But why think of a negative scenario

when you can think positively? And it's a possibility, right?

GROUP STAGE MATCHDAY 5

BARÇA BEATS BENFICA, REACHES ROUND OF 16

[commentator 1] Hello, hello! How are you? Greetings. Welcome to Camp Nou.

To be or not to be? Barça-Benfica.

[crowd booing]

[commentator 1, in Spanish] It's over, 0-0!

[in Spanish] Come on, guy. Be proud, okay? Come on, Gavi. Gavi, come on.

[Xavi] We couldn't get more than a tie,

that was the first hard pill to swallow.

SIXTH MATCH OF THE GROUP STAGE:

BARÇA MUST WIN TO ADVANCE TO PLAYOFFS

[Xavi, in Spanish] I'm noticing some tense faces,

you remember the 2-8, 0-3...

TEAM TALK BEFORE MATCH AGAINST FC BAYERN

Relax, guys. We have a chance to make history.

No one's betting on us, no one.

Everyone already sees us in the Europa League

and that Bayern is going to beat us... Does Lewandowski play to score goals?

First chance, you say, "You wanna play? Yeah!"

It's our lives, and we may lose, but if we do, we do it giving it our all.

Let's come back to the locker room and say,

"Hey, we gave it our all, we played, and we're proud of the team."

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHDAY 6 FC BAYERN - FC BARCELONA

[commentator 1] Lewandowski in the zone, even with Piqué. There goes Lewandowski.

Lewandowski shoots to the second post...

Araujo catches it...

And goal!

[whistle blows]

[Xavi, in Spanish] I expected to compete another way.

Today is also a huge blow for me as a coach.

I think we hit rock bottom. We didn't qualify.

I told them the truth in the locker room,

at that time, that match was unworthy of the team.

When we don't play good enough, I get mad. The lack of energy angers me.

Xavi has an awful temper, he has a strong character.

SERGIO ALEGRE ASSISTANT

He's not one to get mad, but when he does, he gets pissed.

ÓSCAR HERNÁNDEZ ASSISTANT COACH

He's was in the locker room, with a whiteboard...

It's possibly one of my angriest days because I was disappointed.

In the end, I am the coach and these values can't be missing.

I'm talking about effort, solidarity,

being a family, respecting your teammates, competing.

And that's what makes me feel bad as a Barça supporter,

not as a coach, but as a supporter.

Bayern is a better team than us currently, that's our reality.

For me it's hard, but from today on,

because I love the team and I feel for them, we'll work hard.

It'll be very demanding because this can't happen.

[somber music playing]

There's been times he didn't have a good time.

He didn't have a good time.

He had a perfect life in Doha.

No one bothered him there, here he's a legend

and he has to go on the streets with sunglasses and a hat...

[Òscar] We can't unplug from soccer for a single minute of our lives.

You go buy bread and someone says something.

You go to your parents' house and they ask why you made that switch.

It's unbelievable, but when you want to unplug, you can't.

[tense music playing]

MATCHDAY 17 CA OSASUNA - FC BARCELONA

We're in a tough situation, okay? A tough situation.

TEAM TALK BEFORE MATCH AGAINST CA OSASUNA

But, hey! Cheer up, boys.

Don't fuck with me, guys. Now the heat is on me...

"Xavi's inexperienced." Well, I don't care.

I don't care, guys. Let them come.

I dare you! Try it, I don't care.

Try three side sprints,

try a center shot, and getting to the first post, man.

We need happiness. You have a lot of talent, guys.

You have talent. Get it through your heads.

Come on, get it together! [clapping]

[commentator 1] Barça plays in El Sadar, Pamplona.

[commentator 2] The players know the situation they're in

and they have to win today no matter what.

[commentator 1] Corner kick off around the second post,

he shoots...

- Goal from Osasuna! - [commentator 2] You could see it coming!

[somber music playing]

[in Spanish] Man, what a frustrating moment.

It's frustrating, I won't lie.

I don't dislike sleeping,

I like to sleep. It's when I rest my mind...

Sometimes I have trouble sleeping, the stress...

And there's hard times, there's hard times,

when the morning comes and you think, "Man! Today's hard."

MATCHDAY 18 FC BARCELONA - ELCHE CF

We're in a shitty situation. It's shitty, guys!

TEAM TALK BEFORE MATCH AGAINST ELCHE CF

Look, we took the challenge down a peg. Okay? It's just winning now.

Win and I'll pay for whatever you want.

[players giggle]

In the end it was "scoring the first goal" and the opponent did it...

"Score before minute 20" and we didn't get it...

In the end I told them, "Look, the challenge is to win, just win."

I'm here pro bono... No, no, you have to win, guys. Hey!

The staff is putting everything on the line to win, guys...

So are you.

Three points, deep breaths, and we'll even look handsome...

Okay?

Come on, damn it, come on!

[players clapping]

MATCHDAY 17

[commentator 1] Look what Gavi just did! Look what Gavi just did!

- Goal! - [commentator 2] What a goal!

[commentator 4, in Spanish] Dear God, the goal the kid just scored!

[Gavi] It was the first goal for Barcelona,

which is the team of my life,

where I've been the most years. It was very special for me.

[commentator 1, in Spanish] Brutal!

Pablo Martín Páez Gavira had made the goal of the day!

End of the match, the Barça kids win, the Barça of the future.

[inspiring music playing]

GAVI TURNS 18 AUGUST 5TH, 2022

[Gavi] I arrived at age 10 from Seville.

The first year I was with my parents and when the season was over

I told them I wanted to live in La Masía with my teammates

and I've been in La Masía for seven years.

It's been good. It was a bit hard at the start,

but then we picked up the pace and we've finally won.

- [whistle blows] - [cheering]

I define myself as a technical player, very technical, nimble, and fast.

- [man] What's your soccer dream? - To play on the main Barça team.

Eighteen already?

- You can get a driver's license. - It's over?

[indistinct chatter]

[Gavi] I tell my teammates in La Masía everyday

how it's like on the first team and I'm very happy to share it with them.

He bought the whole Nike store.

Damn, it's your birthday! Congratulations!

Eighteen, right?

[Gavi] I'm used to it because I've been here several years,

but I also wish I could live by myself.

It's about time.

[Xavi] He's crazy. He's a special guy.

The passion he has, the courage, the will, the character...

He's 17 and he doesn't care, he'll go up against a 6'5" dude anyway.

He's all passion. It's priceless.

But he has the bad habit of playing without tying his shoes.

One day I jokingly asked if he knew how, I said, "Show me."

"No, man, I do know how."

"One day they'll step on them or you'll fall..."

"No, no, I play better like this."

Go ahead. Otherwise it wouldn't be Gavi.

SIGNING MARKET JANUARY 2022

[indistinct chatter]

[dramatic music playing]

Today's a great day.

Ferran Torres has shown interest in joining Barça, who I'd like to thank.

[chuckles] Well, it was easy.

Xavi wanted me. He called me, he insisted I came...

Okay, then! Welcome, man! All good?

All right!

Welcome!

[Aubameyang, in French] I had some problems with Arsenal.

It was Xavi who called me,

and after his call I decided to come to Barça.

[Xavi, in Spanish] Well, let's welcome Pierre. Pierre, right?

- Auba. - Auba's better?

[in Spanish] Yes. I'm very happy to be here, thank you very much.

[players clapping]

DANI ALVES RETURNS TO F.C. BARCELONA SIX SEASONS LATER

[Alves] I left here thinking and feeling I hadn't been given the chance

to say goodbye like everyone else has here.

Life has to give me that back.

Like I always said, this team is different, it's not the same.

This team has an energy that only those who lived it

can know, it's different... It's more than a team.

[clicks tongue]

[inhales sharply]

I wasn't okay, honestly, since Joan took charge.

I knew a cycle had finished and another had started,

but the most valuable thing had been lost,

which was the essence of how we did things.

[uplifting music playing]

There is no revolution without a good tradition.

This team was made to win.

To win with an identity that makes people want to be like you.

You are a reflection of your soul.

If the soul reflects a good vibe, you'll show it on the field.

A good collection of trophies.

A lot of good people. The good of this world.

[Xavi] He's the player with most awards in the history of this team.

When I called him, he said:

"I'll eat your dust,"

and I said, "You'll help us, Dani, you'll help us because we need

some sort of joy, competitiveness, a winning character..."

I feel I can still be useful both on and off the field.

DANI ALVES DEFENDER

Wait a second, I'll get...

[laughter]

Hey, bring some flip flops for him too.

We had lost that identity which is so clear to me.

Here you have to win and defend a history.

I felt people had no trust,

and if you don't have trust

or you fear failure, you've already failed.

[tense music playing]

[Xavi] Today's an intense day, guys. A key day.

It's a direct rival, we get in the Champions...

They'll make us work for it. It's a brave team...

Go get them, get the match. Let's win this.

Life's flying by, guys. Let's get in the Champions.

- Okay? Go get them, come on! - [applause]

MATCHDAY 23

[commentator 1] Barcelona, in Camp Nou, plays against Club Atlético Madrid.

MATCHDAY 23 FC BARCELONA - ATLÉTICO MADRID

Koke passes again to Luis Suárez...

and goal.

[Alba] In this match, I remember I wasn't going through

a good moment, personally.

[chuckling, in Spanish] I hit it with my shin,

but it made Camp Nou and the people

believe we could win.

[loud cheering]

[commentator] Left quick to the center.

Watch for the shot. Goal!

Goal from Dani Alves!

He becomes the most veteran player in Barça's history

to score a goal in LaLiga.

Dani Alves and Camp Nou, a love story.

It was very nice, and I connected. I simply opened my arms

to receive people's energy and I started to relive things.

I know the value of returning here.

We've lived things very few teams will have the honor of living.

MATCHDAY 23 FC BARCELONA 4 - 2 ATLÉTICO MADRID

[commentator] End of match. A huge victory for Barça against Atlético Madrid.

MATCHDAY 23

[Xavi] Somehow it was a turning point to tell ourselves

that we were playing well and to keep it up.

Come on, we're in the Champions! No one can stop us!

[indistinct chatter]

[reporter] We asked Cholo Simeone if at any point

in the match if he'd seen Barça as superior tactically of technically,

and he replied with a simple, "No."

Do you think Barça was superior at any point?

Of course. What he looks for is totally different,

it's the opposite of what we look for.

[imperceptible]

We start from the "Four P" play model.

The first "P" is positioning.

It's very important that everyone knows where their teammates are.

If my teammate is there, I can't be in the same position.

We talk a lot about grids.

These four squares have to be occupied by the ball.

Okay? Ready at the square. Okay, Frenkie, Gavi?

I don't go in the square. This is for Busquets or a midfielder.

The sides are wide open.

The laterals not so open.

Midfield, pivot, interiors and the pointer.

And positioning for us is basic, that's why we do positioning games.

The famous accordion, when you don't have the ball,

everyone goes 10-15 meters in.

When we do, they go 10-15 meters out to open the field.

[Busquets] That's the idea Barça's used these last few years,

and he knows it very well, it's ingrained in him.

Then possession, it's very important to own the ball.

[Alves] I once talked to Xavi about it, he said,

"There's nothing faster than the ball."

If you have it, you're covered.

If you have it, you can charm the world.

[Xavi] When I ask what percentage of possession we think we can manage...

I always say I'd like to have 100%.

[Alba] I think it's not easy,

especially for people who haven't played here since they were little,

but in the long run, we'll all understand these 4P perfectly.

[Xavi] Less touching. One or two taps. Head-on. Head-on again.

Start with it. That's unstoppable, guys.

The other one is pressure. We talk about recovering the ball,

not stealing it, because the ball is ours.

Step forward. Recover the ball.

Everyone step forward. Pressure after loss,

we're recovering a lot of balls on the opposite side.

I go towards the goalie and intercept the pass.

Then there's the perception of the game.

We talk about strength in numbers in the game.

A midfielder divides if he's alone,

he divides until he's faced, so he can free a mark.

And the perception is to see who's the free mark

and find it constantly.

Midfield, go in. Divide.

Sides open. Interiors go for the offensive.

Each knows when.

Guys, you did it in training. You know it.

[Eric] I think the team's getting better and better

and that's very important for the way we're trying to play.

Raise your head. That's it.

We don't play to run around and win.

No, we play to understand the game.

And I leave a way out, I always support my teammates. Be dynamic.

Always being dynamic.

Play simple, guys. This is playing football well.

So, positioning, possession, pressure and perception of the game.

That way, the player, everything we work for,

the gameplay model in training,

is based on this "Four P" model.

MATCHDAY 25 VALENCIA CF - FC BARCELONA

We have an important soccer battle today...

TEAM TALK BEFORE MATCH AGAINST VALENCIA CF

With wastes of time, standoffs, kicks, faults, interruptions...

[Aubameyang, in French] This was my first official match

and I was very happy and excited.

[indistinct instructions]

[commentator, in Spanish] Correct positioning by Aubameyang,

Aubameyang as the ball...

Goal!

Aubameyang debuts in Mestalla.

Ball again for Gavi, no marks,

Gavi shoots center... Aubameyang...

Goal!

Aubameyang again.

[Aubameyang, in French] For the second goal we did a nice play,

Gavi made a great pass and I made the shot. [chuckles]

[Pedri, in Spanish] They tell me to shoot towards the goal.

It's what Xavi asks for the most.

They didn't give me that goal, they gave it to Auba. [chuckles]

[Aubameyang, in French] I knew I had touched it, but didn't wanna celebrate.

Normally, I wouldn't have counted it, but the referee decided it. [chuckles]

MATCHDAY 25 VALENCIA CF 1 - 4 FC BARCELONA

MATCHDAY 25 VALENCIA CF 1 - 4 FC BARCELONA

[players cheering]

[indistinct chatter]

[in Spanish] See you have to shoot?

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER MARKET, DEMBÉLÉ IS SEPARATED FROM THE TEAM

[Xavi] With Ousmane, the moment I told him

the team's decision was that he didn't play, I was very honest.

He always said he wanted to stay on Barça,

but, of course, he didn't renew, and I thought,

"Well, he must've signed with another team."

About Dembélé. Okay? About Ousmane.

It's in the press, you know, it's a touchy issue.

It's not easy. It isn't to me either.

But the team has made a choice.

Those here are a family and have to know everything.

The team thinks the manager is pulling the club's leg.

He either renews or finds a way out.

It's the team's choice. Okay?

No problem, train your heart out. "We've bet on you playing."

He's a player that could be world-class.

I always say, "Ousmane, I'm on the lateral and I'm fucked,

it seems you'll carry both guns".

[reporter] The signing market ended and Dembélé is still on Barça,

he's back on the roster.

MATCHDAY 26 FC BARCELONA - ATHLETIC CLUB

[commentator 2, in Spanish] How do you ask 100,000 people for forgiveness?

This could be a good sign.

[Aubameyang, in French] It can't be easy to go through a situation like he has.

But he was mad and he wanted to show it.

And the hissing became applauses.

MATCHDAY 26 FC BARCELONA 4 - 0 ATHLETIC CLUB

[Xavi, in Spanish] I've been here for 25 years

and I've never seen naturals like this.

MATCHDAY 26

[commentator 2] The match is over. Unbelievable! 4-0.

MATCHDAY 27 ELCHE CF 1 - 2 FC BARCELONA

[crowd cheering]

MATCHDAY 27

[players shouting in excitement]

[players chattering, cheering]

Come on, kid!

[applause]

[indistinct chatter]

MATCHDAY 28 FC BARCELONA 4 - 0 CA OSASUNA

[commentator 1] Pass from Dembélé for Torres...

Goal by Ferran Torres!

Outstanding assist by Ousmane Dembélé.

MATCHDAY 28

FC BARCELONA - A NEW ERA

[laughing] Wow.

[in Spanish] It was amazing!

[in French] I'm a big fan of Dragon Ball.

I was in the hotel room in Madrid.

I picked up the phone and said,

"I want to have a party because I think today will go well."

Find the Crystal Ball.

Then I went to sleep. I fell asleep.

I don't like to be woken up. [chuckles]

Suddenly... [imitates knocking] someone's at the door.

I say, "Who could it be?"

I open the door and there was a Crystal Ball. [chuckles]

Perfect. I gave him the tickets for the match.

I said, "When I score, I'll go wherever you are, so give me the Crystal Ball."

And so it was.

I couldn't do it on the first goal because I knew it was far.

But I knew I'd score a second goal...

So I went to see him, and he gave me the Crystal Ball.

[whimsical music playing]

[theme music playing]