Monday 16 November 2015 23:40, UK
Xavi believes Louis van Gaal is among the best coaches in the game despite revealing he thought he was "an idiot" after working with him for just two days.
The former Barcelona midfielder worked under Van Gaal when he was in charge at the Nou Camp, and was given his debut by the Dutchman in 1998.
Then just 18, the future Spain World Cup and European Championship winner was initially unconvinced by the former Ajax coach.
Xavi told espnfc.com: "After two days of training under him, I thought, 'Who is this idiot?' After a week, I thought, 'He's right.' He'll always be in my heart, Louis van Gaal."
Van Gaal has emerged as one of the Premier League's most prominent characters since his arrival at Old Trafford last year.
But Xavi is adamant he is less animated now than he was in some of his previous roles, including when he took charge of Bayern Munich between 2009 and 2011.
"He is a good person, a very good trainer," the 35-year-old added. "He has a very strong character, but he's calm in the Premier League because there's less pressure.
"He's much calmer than when he was at Barca or Bayern. He's honest, methodical and a real perfectionist. He's very demanding, he's strict and he wants to achieve the highest levels possible."
Xavi, now playing in Qatar with Al Sadd, has also defended Jose Mourinho's role under Van Gaal at Barcelona, with the Chelsea boss often dismissed as little more than a translator.
Xavi said: "He was the assistant coach, someone who understood the philosophy of Barca and who shared many of the same characteristics of Van Gaal.
"He was very respected by the players. He trained us sometimes alone at Barca B and he was excellent.
"I'm surprised that he became known for another type of football, more defensive, because he wasn't like that with us."
