Iniesta says he loves watching Barça and the national team

“I love watching Barça and the national team play,” Andrés Iniesta says. Speaking online from Dubai before flying to Barcelona, the former player reflects on following the teams and the new chapter he has begun as a coach. Aged 42, he made time in a busy schedule split between taking charge of Gulf United and family life with his wife and five children. In Barcelona, he is due to open the interactive exhibition “Iniesta Experience: el juego interior” at IMAX today.

The conversation also looks back at his move into coaching. Iniesta hung up his boots at Emirates Club two years ago. He now wants to make his mark from the dugout, with a footballing idea shaped in part by Barça’s identity. The interviewer points out that Xavi began in Qatar, went on to win La Liga with Barça and is now with the Netherlands national team.

For Iniesta, Barça remains a point of reference, but not a career destination he has set for himself. Continuing as a coach and, one day, working for the club would mean a great deal to him, he says, while stressing that it is not a goal he has fixed in his mind. He recalls that when he arrived in Barcelona, his ambition was clear: to succeed in the first team. This time, he would rather let time decide. Coaching was not something he had planned, but he is enjoying the start of this new role.

The job keeps him busy. Iniesta says he is connected for almost the whole day, but enjoys the work. He is also continuing his coaching education: he holds the A licence and is due to begin the final Pro stage in mid-October. He says being part of a team was a requirement for access to that course.

On the pitch, his side begins with two shapes, 3-4-3 and 5-2-3. Asked about the style he wants his team to play, he is invited to consider the Barça sides of Rijkaard, Guardiola and Luis Enrique. More broadly, Iniesta says he is drawn to the talent, cohesion and understanding of the game he sees in Barça and Spain. He also notes that for teams such as Barça, the challenge comes around every year: to keep winning after already claiming major honours.