Barcelona back Xavi amid calls for manager change – sources،
Barcelona have “total” confidence in Xavi Hernandez and his position as coach, a club source has told ESPN, despite the team’s dip in form and recent results.
The Catalan club were beaten 1-0 by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday and needed an injury-time winner from Ronald Araújo to beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in La Liga on Saturday, after losing 2 -1 in the Clásico against Real Madrid. a week earlier.
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Sources close to Xavi told ESPN that any questions about his future as manager were “irrelevant” given his history at the club.
Xavi – a Barca legend as a player between 1998 and 2015 – took over as manager in November 2021, with the club struggling on and off the pitch, and won the La Liga title in convincing fashion the last season.
Sources have argued that Xavi’s plan is a long-term one that should not be called into question due to a momentary mishap.
The defeat against Shakhtar – which meant Barca missed the chance to qualify for the Champions League last 16 – was a blow to morale, a club source said, but did not not led the board to doubt Xavi.
The mood behind the scenes was one of unity and trust, the source said, and the team should bounce back quickly.
Two years into his reign, Xavi has faced criticism in recent weeks for the team’s style of play – with just two goals scored in his last three games – but sources close to the coach have told ESPN that they would not get involved in speculation about its future.
Xavi renewed his managerial contract until 2025 in September and has a good relationship with president Joan Laporta.
Barca are third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Girona and two behind Real Madrid, ahead of Sunday’s match against Alavés at Montjuic before the international break.
This will be followed by three difficult tests at home against FC Porto in the Champions League then against Atletico Madrid and Girona in La Liga.
Meanwhile, former Barcelona captain Gerard Pique called for “patience” with Xavi on Wednesday.
“You should only fire the coach when you don’t see solutions,” Pique told Catalan radio RAC1. “Xavi knows the place, he’s been there for many years. He grew up with this style of play. I can’t think of anyone better than him to take this project forward.”
“There is nervousness and criticism when Barca don’t play well for a few games, but that’s normal at this club,” he said. At Barça we have to win and play well. [Real] Madrid would love to win 1-0 at Anoeta [against Real Sociedad] in the 92nd minute, but here it’s not enough because of the way we played. It’s an extra pressure for the coach and the players.”
Pique said the insistence that Barca play attractive football made the job more difficult, but also more rewarding.
“[Real Madrid] is the team that won the most [Champions Leagues] than anyone in Europe, but our way of being and thinking means that when we win, we will be remembered forever,” he said.
“Dynamism [Guardiola]Barça is remembered as the best team in recent history. Madrid’s last Champions League [win in 2022] It was a miracle and no one remembers it. They weren’t the best team in a single draw, including the final.”
