Xavi Hernandez was brought back to Barcelona to help turn the club’s fortune around after years of misery under managers like Ronald Koeman and Quique Setien. Xavi was expected to understand the club’s DNA perfectly, as he won almost everything playing for the Catalan giants as a player and an even more incredible captain.
Sadly, after winning the La Liga last season, Barcelona now look like a club with no identity and direction. Xavi Hernandez’s job is now under real threat after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Supercopa, which took place in Saudi Arabia last night.
Will Xavi Hernandez stay in charge of Barcelona?
Just two months ago, in November 2023, Xavi Hernandez was celebrating his two years back at Barcelona as the club’s manager. Xavi was brought back to the club to help restore the club’s DNA after several humiliating years under club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who squandered most of the club’s income on unnecessary transfers with no results.
Xavi’s return was met with great enthusiasm as the club fans thought they were getting the man who understood the club through and through. The move did seem like the right one initially. Xavi won La Liga last season, and while he was dropped out of the UCL very early in the competition, he did manage to help Barcelona get one over bitter rivals Real Madrid domestically.
This season hasn’t gone according to plans for both Xavi Hernandez and Barcelona. After spending a huge sum to recruit several players like Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Joules Kounde, and many more in the last few transfer windows, Xavi has been unable to get the best out of his star-studded squad.
The 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final yesterday has rubbed more salt on the open wound for the fans and everyone associated with the club, but reports suggest that Xavi’s job is not in any immediate danger, and he will be given more time to turn things around at the club.
Xavi Hernandez apologizes to Barcelona fans
As a proper Barcelona man, Xavi understands that it is a bad thing to lose an El-Clasico game, but losing by a 4-1 scoreline is totally unacceptable, and the fans must be hurting to watch their team get battered by a more effective Real Madrid team yesterday.
“All we can do right now is accept the criticism and apologize to the fans,” the former club captain said.
“We didn’t show up as a team playing in a final, much less against Real Madrid. I’m the most responsible,” he added.
While the going has gotten really tough for Xavi, who recently received supporting words from rival Carlo Ancelotti, he believes he can turn things around at the club, and the good thing is that he has the club’s backing, at least for now.
Barcelona will look to shake off that disappointing 4-1 defeat when they play a second-division team in Copa del Rey on Thursday their Sunday clash with Real Betis in La Liga.
