Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández finds himself in a precarious position as a section of the first-team squad has lost faith in his leadership, according to several sources. The recent 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final has only exacerbated the ongoing disillusionment among players, with concerns predating this humbling Clásico loss in Saudi Arabia.
Player Doubts and Complaints
Numerous players have been expressing skepticism about the team’s approach for some time now. They are particularly annoyed by Xavi’s comments suggesting that they have failed to adapt to Barcelona’s style of play. While not all players share the same opinion on the matter, some feel that the coach has not been equally demanding of all members of the squad.
Xavi’s camp maintains that the coach still believes the players are with him, although they acknowledge the possibility of some discontent within a squad of 20 players. While the team’s results have been below expectations this season, Xavi expresses satisfaction with the behavior and attitude of the entire team. The narrow 3-2 victory against Almeria before Christmas is viewed as a significant turning point in the player-manager relationship, despite criticism over a lackluster performance against the last-placed LaLiga team.
Concerns among players had already started to emerge prior to their defeats in LaLiga against Madrid and Girona, as well as in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp. Xavi, however, has consistently stated in news conferences that he believes in maintaining a positive relationship with his players. Even after the recent loss to Madrid, he expressed his unwavering faith in the team and their ability to turn the season around.
Conflicting Views
While Xavi’s position is supported by sporting director Deco, who dismisses any doubts about the coach’s future, sources consulted by ESPN reveal a less optimistic perspective. Despite Xavi’s contract renewal until 2025, doubts surrounding his long-term future at the club persist. Such uncertainty reflects a decline in confidence, yet dismissing Xavi and finding a suitable replacement poses challenges due to Barcelona’s financial fair play situation and a lack of obvious short-term candidates.
In the event that Xavi departs before the season’s end, there is speculation that Barcelona Atletic coach and former Mexico international, Rafa Marquez, is president Joan Laporta’s favored candidate for an interim role. This suggests that contingency plans are being considered should the situation with Xavi worsen.
Concerns About Performance
The recent defeat to Madrid has magnified Barcelona’s poor performances, which, despite not always affecting results, have been increasingly criticized by the local media. The team currently sits eight points behind LaLiga leaders Girona, who have played an additional match, and seven points behind Madrid, who are in second place. Nevertheless, Barcelona remains in contention in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, with upcoming fixtures against Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa and Napoli in Europe.
Xavi Hernández, a former Barcelona player of over 20 years, took charge of the Catalan club in 2021 and delivered their first league title since 2019 in his debut full season as coach. However, he now faces significant challenges as player discontent grows amidst disappointing results. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the future of Xavi and his position at Barcelona, with uncertainties surrounding his ability to turn the team’s fortunes around.
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