Holland’s national football team head coach Xavi Hernandez expressed satisfaction with his initial four matches in charge, emphasizing efforts to build a cohesive squad that competes collectively. The team currently leads Group A2 in the Nations League after securing a 2-1 victory over Serbia on Sunday in Eindhoven, significantly bolstering their chances of reaching the quarter-finals in March.

Hernandez highlighted the team’s resilience and adaptability during the recent win, noting that the players “fought like a family” despite challenging circumstances. He acknowledged that the team initially struggled to maintain possession against Serbia’s well-organized defense but found improved form after switching formations.

Throughout his first four fixtures, which began with a home draw against Germany and included an away win over Serbia and a 2-2 comeback draw in Greece on Thursday, Xavi experimented with different tactical setups. He remarked that the team has become capable of controlling matches through various approaches while also learning to defend effectively, whether employing a low or mid-block strategy.

“The players are wonderful people,” Hernandez said, while also recognizing the need for footballing improvements across multiple areas. The Dutch team has now conceded goals in 12 consecutive games, a trend the coach is aiming to reverse. “We want to become harder to score against,” he stated, adding that while scoring more than the opponent remains the goal, securing clean sheets will take time.

Following the recent match, Xavi indicated his intention to take a brief rest after an intense schedule, but he will continue monitoring the squad as he works to foster a close-knit team environment. The Netherlands is scheduled to host Greece in Amsterdam on November 13 before traveling to Berlin to face Germany three days later.