Tite addresses Brazil’s interest in Xavi as Selecao boss backs Jesus

Xavi
has
been
tasked
with
restoring
the
fortunes
of
embattled
LaLiga
giants
Barca
following
his
appointment
as
Ronald
Koeman’s
successor
on
Saturday.

The
41-year-old
spent
17
trophy-laden
seasons
at
Barcelona
before
moving
to
Al-Sadd
in
2015,
eventually
taking
charge
four
years
later.

After
returning
to
Catalonia,
Xavi
revealed
he
turned
down
the
opportunity
to
join
Tite’s
Brazil
ahead
of
the
2022
World
Cup
in
Qatar.

As
Brazil
–
six
points
clear
atop
the
standings
–
prepare
for
Thursday’s
CONMEBOL
World
Cup
qualifier
against
Colombia,
Tite
addressed
the
country’s
interest.

“I
don’t
have
too
much
information
on
Xavi
to
do
a
deeper
analysis,”
Tite
told
reporters.
“I
know
him
from
inside
the
pitch.
And
some
information
from
the
press
that
is
superficial.
I
don’t
know
him
with
the
depth
I
have
with
my
colleagues
that
I
spend
every
day
with.
We
have
to
be
careful
to
talk
about
it.

“What
I
can
say
to
you
is
that
they
talked
to
me
about
it.
Rogerio
Caboclo
talked
to
me
about
that
possibility.
And
he
said
that
he
would
talk
to
Xavi.
And
I
said
yes
because
he
could
bring,
as
an
assistant
manager,
the
baggage
of
what
he
experienced
inside
the
football
field.

“Plus
the
experience
he
had
outside
it.
As
a
captain,
the
conduct
he
had
as
a
leader,
and
I
could
see
it
even
from
far
away.
He
could
bring
his
leadership,
correction,
knowledge,
ideas.

“From
that
moment,
what
happened
I
don’t
know.
Rogerio
[Caboclo]
told
you
about
everything.
But,
yes,
this
was
talked
about.
And
right
afterwards,
they
talked
about
Muricy
[Ramalho].
And,
yes,
they
talked
about
it.
Yes,
he
was
requested.
And
this
is
the
second
stage
because
Muricy
is
the
one
now.”

Brazil
are
unbeaten
through
11
World
Cup
qualifiers
on
the
road
to
Qatar
2022,
though
the
focus
has
been
on
Gabriel
Jesus
leading
into
the
Colombia
clash.

Jesus
has
not
scored
for
the
Selecao
since
the
2019
Copa
America
final
against
Peru,
but
Tite
backed
the
Manchester
City
forward.

“Gabriel
is
an
attacker,”
Tite
said.
“He
is
either
nine
or
seven.
Either
he
is
on
the
side,
as
a
wing,
aggressive.
Or
he
is
the
one
infiltrating.
From
the
depth
pass.
He
has
both
characteristics.
He
has
this
history
in
the
national
team.

“Go
back
in
time.
When
I
took
over
in
the
game
against
the
Equator,
he
was
that
player,
he
did
a
sequel.
Then,
he
played
on
the
side
with
[Roberto]
Firmino
and
[Philippe]
Coutinho
inside.
We
didn’t
have
Neymar.
He
has
this
versatility.
He
is
a
player
who
has
the
physical
and
technical
virtues
to
perform
one
or
another
function.
Sometimes,
scoring
a
goal
is
from
the
opportunities
you
have.

“It
reminds
me
of
Edmar,
a
player
I
used
to
play
with.
I
always
thought
that
there
are
phases
that
the
ball
hits,
hits,
and
I
score.
And
there
are
some
moments
when
I
am
in
the
right
place,
I
follow
the
move,
but
the
ball
doesn’t
come.
He
will
appear.
In
the
last
match,
it
appeared.
And
it
had,
in
the
great
defences
from
the
Uruguayan
goalkeeper
[Fernando]
Muslera,
two
or
three
accurate
finishes.

“That
is
what
I
want
from
an
attacker.
That
is
what
the
specific
work
has
been
given
and
what
Gabriel
Jesus
can
give.”

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