Xavi’s Return to Montjuïc: Mixed Reactions and Support Amidst Fan Discontent

Xavi stepped onto the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic turf, marking his first appearance since resigning as the FC Barcelona coach. It was the initial interaction with the fans, taking place on the same stage where the team suffered a painful 3-5 defeat against Villarreal last Saturday, shattering LaLiga dreams as a distant miracle.

Support for Xavi… and Jeers for Some Players

The stands, however, managed to react and rally behind their coach during a week that proved tragic for the club due to the shock of his resignation, just four months before the season’s conclusion. The positive vibes at the Estadi Olímpic, which, as expected, wasn’t filled and registered the third-lowest attendance of the season, didn’t manifest the same way from the outset, at least not towards the players.

There was anticipation to see how the ‘gent del Barça’ (Barça people) welcomed the team following the coach’s announcement, and the initial response wasn’t what the club and Xavi would have preferred, especially given his emphasis on unity.

The discontented reaction from the culés occurred when the starting lineup was announced, with the names of the players displayed and announced one by one over the stadium speakers before the ball started rolling on the Montjuïc turf.

Right from the start, wind music accompanied by some jeers began. Two players, in particular, faced the brunt of the fans’ ire: Lewandowski and Koundé. Iñaki Peña also found himself under scrutiny, as the fans started to cast a wary eye due to the team’s defensive struggles in recent months.

However, as the names were announced, the initial jeers gave way to the first applause. The boos gradually subsided for players like Cubarsí, Araujo, De Jong, Gündogan, Lamine, or Ferran, who received the approval of the supporters.

Once the ball was in play, it took time for the fans to connect with the team. Nevertheless, isolated jeers—while most of the crowd did their best to support on another chilly night at Montjuïc—transformed into cheers when Vitor Roque scored the winning goal in the 63rd minute.