Barcelona have not had the best of times recently, with some unfortunate losses hampering their season early on. The Catalans have not performed well under manager Xavi recently, losing back-to-back matches. They lost 4-2 to La Liga leaders Girona and then lost 3-2 to UCL opponents Royal Antwerp.
Understandably, the fans of the club have not been satisfied with Xavi and the team’s performance. Several media outlets have even suggested that the Spaniard is now in danger and is losing faith in the board. However, he has decided to respond to them himself.
Xavi claps back at media critics
The Catalans currently find themselves in 4th place in La Liga, trailing leaders Girona by 7 points after a series of poor performances. Despite their struggles in the domestic league, they managed to qualify as leaders in their UCL group, albeit by a very narrow margin.
With all these poor results, the team’s tactics are coming under question. Barcelona have not been playing the way the fans are used to, and Xavi is the one who is being criticized the most. The recent defeats have made him the target of criticism from various sources. Many media outlets have been reporting negative news about the Spaniard, with rumors of his possible sacking running around.
🔵🔴 Xavi: “A month ago you asked me if I was Barça's Sir Alex Ferguson, then now I'm on the street. Stability. That's what the club needs”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 16, 2023
“I prefer to be criticized rather than the players. I give more if they criticize me and I won't stop”. pic.twitter.com/Ehg0zZeaLP
But Xavi has had enough of all the negative news around him, and recently lashed out at all the media outlets. He pointed out their hypocritical statements, saying in a recent press conference, “A month ago you asked me if I was Barça’s Sir Alex Ferguson, then now I’m on the street. Stability. That’s what the club needs.”
He still believes in himself and has said the criticism won’t stop him, “I prefer to be criticized rather than the players. I give more if they criticize me and I won’t stop.”
Xavi claim match against Valencia to be must win
However, Xavi recognizes the importance of swiftly turning around the team’s results. He understands that achieving better outcomes is crucial for satisfying both the board and the fans. The best way to accomplish this is by securing a win in the upcoming league game against Valencia.
Xavi: "It's a final for us because we need points, we're not where we wanted to be in La Liga. Valencia is a very complicated rival, they are doing a good job, we will face this match like a final." pic.twitter.com/JpxIUxPGMZ
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) December 15, 2023
Speaking in the same press conference, Xavi said the game is like a final for the team, “It’s a final for us because we need points, we’re not where we wanted to be in La Liga. Valencia is a very complicated rival, they are doing a good job, we will face this match like a final.”
It will not be easy for Barcelona to face a side like Valencia at the challenging Mestalla stadium. However, Valencia themselves are currently at 11th place in the league and have not performed well in their recent games. If Barcelona is to improve their position in the league, they must secure a win.
The game against Valencia is tonight at the Mestalla stadium, with Xavi and Barcelona hoping to come back home with all three points. Otherwise, it could spell trouble for the legendary Camp Nou figure, Xavi.
