Coach Xavi closes Netherlands training sessions: A lesson in connection from 49 years of perspective

When I heard that 13 training sessions were scheduled for the first international break of the Netherlands national team under new head coach Xavi, I asked myself: how many of those sessions would be open to the media? The answer reminded me of my days at Busan IPark, where I used to stand in the rain just to watch players warm up through a crack in the door. Not one of the 13 training sessions is fully open. Only a few open for the final 15 minutes, enough to see players jogging, playing rondo, and perhaps a game of tag. For someone who has spent 49 years observing football, I understand the difference between protecting tactics and alienating fans. But for ESPN and analyst Hans Kraay Jr., this is not just about tactics. This is a cultural clash between Dutch football - where openness and directness are long-standing traditions - and a new coach arriving with a habit of secrecy. Kraay made no secret of his frustration: "Nobody knows what kind of coach Xavi is, how he trains, or what he trains." I remember eight years ago, when I wrote an analysis of Busan IPark's high pressing, I made a mistake by looking only at numbers and not at people. This time, I told myself: listen before writing. The context of this story is unique. Xavi was appointed as Netherlands head coach in August, taking over a team that reached the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals and the Nations League semi-finals. The Netherlands may no longer be in the golden era of Johan Cruyff, but they remain a formidable force. Four Nations League matches are approaching in the coming weeks, and all eyes are on how Xavi will run the team. However, instead of talking about tactics, the articles focus on a completely different topic: the closure. Kraay, a former player and now ESPN analyst, cannot understand why almost every training session is closed. He calls it a "disservice" to fans and media. Mossou, another Dutch journalist, goes further by arguing that the national team should not be treated like a club, and training sessions should be opened periodically. I have lived through many football eras, from Vietnamese football in its infancy to the modern data era. I understand that the media always wants more, and coaching staffs always want more control. But one thing I learned in Busan: the hearts of fans are the most honest measure, even if they hurt the writer. When Covid-19 closed stadiums, I witnessed the longing of fans just to see their players run on the grass. Now, with training sessions closed, I wonder: what will Dutch families think when their children cannot see their idols? What makes this story remarkable is not the closure itself, but how it exposes a truth: we know very little about Xavi as a coach. In modern football, where every pass is calculated and every session is filmed, it is rare for a coach to completely hide his methods. Kraay is right: nobody knows what kind of coach Xavi is. We know Xavi - the great Barcelona and Spain player who won every possible trophy. But Xavi - the coach who led Barcelona to the 2026-23 La Liga title - remains an enigma to the Dutch media. This secrecy creates an information vacuum, and that vacuum is quickly filled with skepticism. I recall the lesson from 2026, when I wrote about Kim Jin-kyu and received 500 comments of criticism because I did not know about his ankle injury. The lesson is: lack of information leads to misunderstanding. When the media has no real data, they turn assumptions into facts. And when fans have no access, they feel abandoned. Mossou argues that the national team represents the whole country, and therefore training sessions should be opened periodically. This is a respectable view. In South Korea, the national team always has a special relationship with fans; I have witnessed thousands of people lining up just to watch the national team train. For children, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their idols up close. Kraay emphasizes: "The opportunity for parents and young children to see the players of the national team... it is unbelievable." But here, I want to pause and consider another angle. Is Xavi simply doing what every modern coach does? In top-level football, tactics are a weapon of survival. An open session can reveal tactical intentions, expected lineups, or even player fitness. National team coaches have far less time than club coaches - only a few days before each international window - so they cannot afford to reveal any information. Pep Guardiola is also famous for tightly controlling media access, and he has been successful. Jurgen Klopp has also closed training sessions when focusing on important matches. I remember the story of 92 days away from the stadium during the pandemic. When I could not go to the stadium, I created a Facebook group and shared stories about 23 players and 5 team staff members. The group reached 40,000 members. That taught me that connecting with fans does not only come from opening training sessions. It comes from sincerity, from telling stories with heart. Xavi may close training sessions, but he can open his heart in other ways. However, I also see a bigger problem: KNVB has obligations to the media and fans. Broadcasting contracts, commercial partnerships, and the public image of the national team all depend on media access. Kraay says the KNVB are doing a disservice to media and supporters. If training sessions are completely closed, KNVB could breach media commitments. This is a public relations risk that could affect Dutch football's image internationally. I have witnessed many mistakes in my career - including my own. Calling Kim Young-gwon by the wrong name three times at the 2026 World Cup taught me that attention to detail is the foundation of credibility. That lesson makes me realize that Xavi may be making a rookie mistake: underestimating the power of the Dutch media and the loyalty of fans to the national team. I want to analyze more deeply the pressure Xavi is facing. This pressure does not come from results - because no match has been played - but from expectation. Xavi arrives in the Netherlands as one of the greatest midfielders in football history. He is a symbol of tiki-taka, of the school of perfect ball possession. The Dutch believe they are welcoming a master of modern total football. But so far, they only see a mysterious face behind closed doors. In modern football, data has become a common language. Numbers tell stories about pressing, about xG, about PPDA. But behind every number is a person, and people need to be understood by the media. When Xavi closes training sessions, when he refuses to share his tactical intentions, he creates fertile ground for speculation. And speculation is always negative, especially in the Netherlands - a country where the "Total Football" tradition is accompanied by directness, even to the point of ruthlessness. I remember when I was young, in the 1970s, Dutch football was where I learned about the "Total Football" philosophy. Johan Cruyff never closed training sessions. In fact, he wanted everyone to see what he was doing, to learn from it. That was part of Dutch football culture - openness, transparency, confidence. When Xavi arrived and applied the closed style of modern Spanish football, he inadvertently touched a tradition deeply embedded in the blood of Dutch fans. However, I also wonder: are we being too harsh on Xavi? Look at the context. Xavi just left Barcelona under not-so-pleasant circumstances. He came to a new country, a new football culture, and needs time to build trust. Closing training sessions may simply be a defensive measure to manage attention during a transition period. When media pressure is too high, coaches often retreat into their own shells. I have seen this in South Korea, where coaches often close training before important matches. But the difference is: in South Korea, it is accepted as part of the culture. In the Netherlands, it is seen as an insult. That is Xavi's blind spot. He may be used to how Barcelona operates, where training sessions are often open for only 15 minutes, and where media attention comes from hundreds of international journalists. But in the Netherlands, football culture demands more openness. The country is too small, too connected; the national team is a common asset of all people. Kraay said the Dutch do not know what kind of coach Xavi is. This is a well-founded criticism. In modern football, coaches are judged by three things: results, tactics, and how they inspire. Xavi has no results yet, has not shown tactics, and is hiding how he inspires. That creates legitimate anxiety. But I also believe this anxiety will disappear as soon as the first match ends. Football is ultimately decided on the pitch, not in open training sessions. Let us view the four upcoming Nations League matches as a test. If the Netherlands win, all criticism about closed training will subside. If they lose, the story will explode in a worse way. Xavi is betting his entire career in the Netherlands on match results. And I, at age 65, have learned that in football, nothing earns fans' trust like winning. But winning in modern football is very difficult, and a team lacking media support can lose a huge advantage. Now, let me offer a counterintuitive perspective. All the criticism aimed at Xavi may reflect a hidden jealousy or resistance to an outsider. The Netherlands is a country with a long football tradition, with excellent coaches born from this very land: Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal. Appointing a Spaniard with no experience in Dutch football is a risky decision. The Dutch media may be looking to question Xavi's legitimacy from the start, and closing training is the perfect excuse. I have lived in South Korea for nearly 30 years and I understand the feeling of being seen as an outsider. When I started writing about Korean football, I was often challenged about my understanding of Korean football culture. But gradually, I earned respect by working hard, by listening to fans and respecting the game. Xavi may need similar time. But with 4 matches coming up, time is what he does not have. Look at another aspect: modern football has changed, and keeping tactical secrets can be an advantage. In the age of data and video, teams can analyze every move of their opponents. Closing training helps Xavi keep an element of surprise. But is it worth trading for the anger of the media? The answer depends on the results of four matches. If Xavi wins, everything will be forgiven. If not, he will be seen as arrogant. I remember a story about Jose Mourinho. When Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid, he also closed training sessions and created a secretive atmosphere. Initially, the Spanish media criticized him harshly. But when Real Madrid started winning, everything calmed down. This shows: victory is a miracle cure for all media problems. Xavi may be walking the same path. So, what is the next signal we need to track? The four Nations League matches. If the Netherlands start well, the media uproar will quickly be forgotten. If the team struggles, pressure will weigh on KNVB and Xavi, forcing them to change media policy. KNVB could open one training session to ease public opinion, and that would be a smart move. I have learned that in football, nothing is stronger than the connection between the team and its fans. Closing the dressing room is one thing, but closing the hearts of children is never right. "The beat keeper does not need to beat the drum loudly, just at the right time, in the right place, and love the job enough to stand long." Xavi is one of the greatest football brains, and I believe he will find a way to balance tactics and media. Four matches will give us the answer. "Lessons do not only come from victory, but from the jeers in the stands." The criticism from Kraay and Mossou is a gift for Xavi if he knows how to listen. Because in the end, football is not a game of closed doors. It is a game of shared passion. And to share passion, you need to open the door to your heart.