Xavi Hernandez Announces Departure: A Turning Point for Barcelona
Barcelona’s coach, Xavi Hernandez, announced on Saturday, following a LaLiga defeat against Villarreal at the Lluís Companys Stadium (3-5), that he will not continue in his role after June 30th. “I want to announce that on June 30th, I will not continue as coach. We have been talking with the president (Joan Laporta), Rafa Yuste, Alejandro Echevarría, Deco (members of the sports commission), and the staff, and we believe the situation deserves a change of course,” he explained in a press conference. “As a Barça fan, I cannot allow this situation. The club needs a change in dynamics, and this will free up the players. We play with too much tension,” he summarized.
Xavi stated that he feels “the maximum responsible” for the current “very negative dynamic” of the team, which he said he often does not have an “explanation” for, and commented that he has the feeling of “doing the right thing,” acting “with common sense.” In ‘Carrusel Deportivo,’ Adrià Albets revealed three photographs that he could verify from the Montjuic stadium that deserve to be analyzed after the Barcelona coach’s “goodbye.”
Firstly, the ‘Carrusel Deportivo’ wireless highlighted three images that caught his attention:
- While Barça announced that he is leaving, Laporta was seen leaving Montjuic in his car.
- Xavi leaves the press conference and goes alone with his wife in the car.
- His brother, Óscar Hernández, left with the club’s communication officials in another car.
Now, the Barcelona coach faces several challenges until the end of the season: trying to redirect the situation in La Liga to secure at least a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League next season. Additionally, Barcelona also has the challenge of finishing among the top two to be in next year’s Spanish Supercopa, as they won’t qualify through the Copa del Rey route.
Moreover, they confront elimination in the round of 16 against a Napoli side that, despite not being in their best season, can pose a threat to a struggling Barcelona. It remains to be seen how Xavi’s figure is affected, both for their opponents and the players in the squad, as everyone knows that from June 30, 2024, he will no longer be directing the Blaugrana team.
