Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez said he was pleased with his first four matches in charge and wants to build a strong team spirit within the squad, with players willing to fight for one another.

The Netherlands moved to the top of Group A2 after beating Serbia 2 to 1 in the Nations League on Sunday, putting them in a strong position to reach the quarter finals in March.

Xavi admitted that his team had to spend periods defending against Serbia, despite wanting to control the match through possession. He said Serbia handled possession well and made it difficult for the Netherlands to take control of the game.

The Spanish World Cup winner said the situation improved after he changed the team’s formation.

During his first four matches as Netherlands coach, Xavi has used different formations. His opening game ended in a home draw against Germany, followed by an away victory over Serbia and a 2 to 2 comeback draw against Greece last Thursday.

Xavi said the team has learned to control matches in different ways. He added that the players are also becoming more comfortable defending in both a low block and a mid block when required.

Regarding the team’s core values, Xavi said he was very satisfied with the players and praised them as wonderful people. However, he acknowledged that the squad still needs improvement in several areas on the footballing side.

The Netherlands have now conceded at least one goal in 12 consecutive matches. Xavi said the team is working to become more difficult for opponents to score against.