Barcelona boss Xavi fighting to keep dressing room – sources،
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández is struggling to keep players tuned in as part of the first team loses confidence in him, multiple sources have told ESPN.
Barca were beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, but sources say the disillusionment predates the humiliating Clásico defeat in Saudi Arabia.
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Several players have been questioning the team's approach for a while. They are also annoyed that Xavi said they had not been able to adapt to Barca's style of play.
A source said not all players shared the same opinion, but some felt he had not been as harsh on certain members of the team.
A source close to Xavi insists the coach feels the players are still with him, while acknowledging there is always the possibility of someone being unhappy within a 20-man squad .
They acknowledge that results have not been as expected so far this season, but say Xavi has been happy with the behavior and attitude shown by the whole team. The 3-2 win over Almeria before Christmas was described by one source as a “turning point” in the relationship between players and manager.
Xavi said after that match that he gave his toughest team speech ever at half-time as Barca worked towards a victory with an 83rd minute winner from Sergi Roberto against the bottom club of La Liga, which remains winless this season.
However, even though this moment was singled out, doubts were established beforehand as Barça suffered defeats in La Liga against Madrid and Girona and in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.
Xavi has said in several press conferences that he believes the relationship with his players remains positive. Speaking after the defeat to Madrid on Sunday, he said he still believed in them and was confident they could turn the season around.
For his part, sporting director Deco said it made “no sense” to question Xavi's future, adding that the coach, who recently signed a new contract until 2025, retained support of the club.
However, sources seen by ESPN were not as frank, admitting that there are doubts about Xavi's future beyond this season, despite his contract being renewed.
This suggests confidence is waning, but Barca's Financial Fair Play situation makes it difficult to fire Xavi and appoint a replacement, while there is also a lack of obvious candidates to turn to in the short term .
Sources added that if Xavi were to leave before the end of the season, Barca Atletic coach and former Mexico international Rafa Marquez would be president Joan Laporta's preferred option to replace him on an interim basis.
Sunday's defeat against Madrid amplified Barça's recent poor performances, which have not always been punished in terms of results but have been criticized by the local media.
They fell eight points behind La Liga leaders Girona, who have played a game more, and seven points behind second-placed Madrid.
However, they remain alive in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. They travel to third division Unionistas Salamanca in the Copa round of 16 on Thursday and face Napoli at the same stage in Europe next month.
Xavi, who spent more than 20 years as a player at Barca, took over the Catalan club in 2021 and led them to their first league title since 2019 last year in his first full season in charge.
