On Saturday, Xavi Hernandez the Coach of Barcelona has announced that he will step down from his position as coach at the end of the current season. He said that he felt “liberation” in leaving a position of the job that he described as “cruel and unpleasant”.
He was disappoint on Saturday match after a 3-5 defeat to Villarreal in La Liga.
Xavi said that he will not be able to continue beyond June 30 of this year. Even his contract with Barcelona runs until the following summer. The former captain, midfield icon, and football ideologue believed the club required a “change of direction”. He could “not allow the situation to continue” as a results and performance crisis raged on. He described the decision as “common sense”. And he stated that, “as a Barcelona fan,” he believed that he was doing “the right thing.”
The decision come after recent setbacks. Which includes elimination from the Copa del Rey and also the defeat in the Spanish Super Cup Final. This leaves the Barcelona 10 points behind the league leaders Real Madrid.
“You often feel there is lack of respect, you feel that your work is not appreciated,” Xavi Hernandez stated. “It wreaks havoc on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As I am a positive person, yet my energy levels goes down and down until the point you say, “It doesn’t make sense.” It makes no sense to proceed. That is how I describe it.
“I made the decision a long time ago, and those closest to me are aware. It’s an issue that I believe is affecting the club right now. It concerns me, but when it comes to the club, I believe I must quit.”
Xavi Hernandez confirmed the news after a “human” speak with the club’s president, Joan Laporta, following a 5-3 home loss to Villarreal. Which left them 10 points behind league leaders Real Madrid, but disclosed that he made the choice a few days earlier. Xavi said he had not informed the players, who had been playing with “too much tension,” and vowed that he would not continue, even if Barcelona won the Champions League. There would be no difficulty with his contract, he stated.
Barcelona was knocked out of the Copa del Rey on midweek, losing 4-2 to Athletic Bilbao. This followed a 4-1 loss to Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final. They had also conceded four to Girona shortly before Christmas. “This decision will help free up the team,” he told reporters.
Xavi Hernandez came in the press conference room more than an hour after the final whistle on Saturday night. “I would like to announce that on 30 June I will not continue as coach of Barcelona,” said the Xavi Hernandez. “We’ve been speaking with the president, Rafa Yuste [the vice-president], Alejandro Echevarria [an adviser], Deco [the sporting director], and others of the personnel.
Xavi took over for Ronald Koeman in November 2021 and guided Barcelona to the league title in his first full season. But their performances and results this season have been disappointing. He stated that he had no explanation for that. He also stated that media have previously questioned him if he could become Barcelona’s own Alex Ferguson and remain in the position for many years; “but that’s impossible here,” he concluded.
