Xavi demands greater attacking threat from Netherlands after winning start

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez says he is pleased with his first week in charge, but expects his team to produce a more attacking performance in their next two Nations League matches.

The Spanish World Cup winner saw the Netherlands secure a late equaliser against Germany in Amsterdam last Thursday after sustained pressure, before recording their first victory under his management with a 2-1 win over Serbia on Sunday.

Despite that positive start, Xavi believes his side must improve, particularly in the way they press and attack space.

“It is always most important to get the three points, I’m happy that we managed to do that. But we do need to play better, because, especially in the first half, we did not press well,” he said.

“Nevertheless, I’m very satisfied after a week of work.”

Xavi also praised AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink, who made his Netherlands debut as a substitute against Germany before scoring both goals in his first start against Serbia.

The coach highlighted Meerdink’s contribution beyond his goals, saying the forward had followed the team’s instructions and worked hard for the side.

“Mexx is a very hard worker who understands how we want to play,” Xavi said.

“He helped the team with more than just his goals, although those certainly helped. The work he did for the team was fantastic.”

The Netherlands travel to Thessaloniki to face Greece on Thursday, before hosting Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday.

Xavi said his team needed to make better use of attacking opportunities, including by making the pitch wider, moving the ball faster and running into open spaces when those opportunities arose.

“For example, there were many moments when we needed to attack the spaces, but we didn’t do it. That is something we need to improve. But also things such as making the pitch wider and moving the ball around more quickly,” he said.

The coach nevertheless believes the Netherlands are developing positively under the structure they are using.

“But the most important thing is that we are creating a lot of chances. The players feel comfortable on the pitch with the structure we are playing in, so a lot of things are also going well.”