Former Spain boss Javier Clemente has hit out at current Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez’s methods of coaching.
Clemente has spent almost half a century in coaching, having been first appointed in senior football in 1975, and is one of the most recognisable figures in Spanish football.
He managed the Spanish national team between 1992 and 1998 having previously held multiple head coaching spells at Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Espanyol.
Clemente went on to have stints at Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Marseille, among multiple other clubs and international sides.
Known as an outspoken and somewhat controversial figure, Clemente has now criticised the coaching techniques used by Xavi as they were only what he know from his playing days at the Camp Nou.
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Speaking on Spanish TV show Deportes Cuatro, Clemente hit out at the lack of experience in modern coaching circles and claimed that they are now increasingly reliant on computers.
He explained: "There are too many modern coaches with not much experience and they will end up having to provide a computer.
"The day that I have to explain my methods with a computer then it will be a problem."
Clemente then turned his attention specifically on Xavi, whom he claimed was not ready to be in the position he is at Barca having previously managed at Qatari club Al Sadd.
"Xavi has entered a club with big problems. He has been a star and he has to look good," Clemente – who is now the manager of North African nation Libya - continued.
"Training at Al Sadd is like training at Real Madrid.
"He is starting to be a coach now.
"He wants the players to play like he played and that's not being a coach."
Despite Clemente’s criticism, Dani Alves - Xavi’s former teammate and his first signing as Barca boss – has recently spoken of Xavi’s coaching style and how he believes he was the perfect fit for the club.
Alves claimed that Xavi was the natural long-term successor to Pep Guardiola at the Blaugrana and would continue to evolve the Cruyffian principles laid down by Johan Cruyff.
Alves told the Tot Costa program on Catalunya Radio, as per Diario Sport : “With Xavi we talked about football. Now, he speaks for the group.
“I knew that Xavi would be version 3.0 of Barca.
“He has inherited a tough situation but he has the same philosophy as Guardiola, the same style.
“Football is not just about winning titles. Here we seek to revolutionise football.
“Cruyff did it and then Guardiola.
“Barca is love for the game and must return to that.”
Xavi has led Barcelona to seven victories in his 16 matches at the helm so far, having replaced Ronald Koeman in the position in November.
