Xavi Hernandez said he was unperturbed after being the third-choice manager for the Netherlands’ head coach role. The Spaniard was appointed as the Dutch’s manager after former Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s ex-coach Arne Slot declined the role.

Dutch Football Association (KNVB) technical director Nigel de Jong said Xavi was on a shortlist of four candidates for the prestigious job. The other candidate was Michael Reiziger, who coaches the Netherlands’ youth team.

“Well, it’s not a bad position after Guardiola and after Slot. Third position. At least we are … on the podium. I don’t care,” he said.

The former Spaniard midfielder will replace Ronald Koeman after his departure following the World Cup. The Netherlands was knocked out of the quadrennial event after their round of 32 loss against Morocco.

Xavi said they want to dominate the game and deliver a collective performance at the top level.

“We want … to dominate the game, to take the initiative with the ball,” he said. “And at the same time, our goal is to show to everybody a team with passion, with desire and ambition.”

Xavi won 25 titles with Barcelona, including four Champions Leagues and eight Spanish leagues as a player. Furthermore, he won the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010. The former Spanish player wants to continue the winning impetus with the Netherlands.

“We will try to change some things. Good habits, new energy,” he said. “We will work with passion, with ambition and with desire in order that people in Holland, the 18 million people, be proud of our team.”

“I feel excited,” Xavi said, “I feel motivated because, you know, we are playing against Germany, one of the best, teams in Europe and one of the best coaches in the last years, Jürgen Klopp. So yeah, it’s a big challenge from the beginning, but I think we will be ready.”

Netherlands will play Germany on September 24 in Amsterdam.