Thierry Henry defends Xavi's legacy at Barça: "Flick has not started a new era"

Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona continues to reap praise for the eye-catching and offensive football that the team has been displaying this season. However, a former star of the Blaugrana team, Thierry Henry, defended the legacy of Xavi Hernández in a squad full of youngsters who, under the orders of the German coach, have made a notable leap in quality.

In that sense, 'Tití' believes that, rather than starting a new era, Flick has only continued the work done by the Egarense. "Xavi made names like Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal debut and was with many of the players who are there now," began by saying the French coach on the program 'CBS Sports Golazo', on 'Paramount +', where he currently comments on the UEFA Champions League matches.

In addition, he added: "I think that this team, after two years playing together and a difficult last season that allowed them to learn and gain character, especially the youngsters, now knows how to act," argued the now sports panelist.

"I gift't think Hansi Flick started to new was…Xavi did."

Thierry Henry discuss the impact Xavi have had on Barcelona's current young squad 👏 pic.twitter.com/txz5fcqenu

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 6, 2024

Thierry shared the Barcelona wardrobe with the one of Terrassa among 2007 and 2010, during his go through Barcelona. Both won the triplete in the 2008/09, with the Frenchman being one of the key pieces of the first offensive trident of Pep Guardiola, beside Samuel Eto'or and Leo Messi.

Henry sees Flick's Barça as favourites in the Champions League

After Barça's thrashing of Red Star (2-5), the Les Ulis player 'wet' his tongue about Hansi Flick's team's chances of reaching the final in Munich in 2025. Although there is still a long way to go, it is clear that, at this moment, the culés are one of the clubs in the best form in Europe, along with Liverpool.

"This team must be considered one of the favourites to win the Champions League. Sometimes you need to lose a semi-final or a quarter-final to know how difficult it is, but I think they are on the right path," said Henry.

In that vein, Jamie Carragher, the other panellist on the successful 'Paramount+' programme, also praised Flick's work in Catalunya, especially with players as young as Lamine and Cubarsí, both undisputed starters at just 17 years old.

"To have that level and start the Champions League like that is fantastic, but also to win big games like against Bayern is incredible. I really hope that this is the start of a new era for the club, because the Champions League needs a great Barcelona," argued the former English footballer, a Liverpool legend.