The probabilities for Xavi Hernández to salvage Barcelona’s season — and certain his personal job — are rapidly fading. Barcelona has seen its greatest two possibilities of getting a title on this marketing campaign evaporate. Xavi’s facet exited the Copa del Rey quarterfinals after shedding in added time at Athletic Bilbao 4-2 on Wednesday, a loss that got here two weeks after Barcelona was dismantled by Real Madrid within the Spanish Super Cup.
It simply has the Spanish league and the Champions League to play for, and each appear to be lengthy photographs. Barcelona is in third place in La Liga, eight factors adrift of chief Girona and 7 behind Madrid. While Xavi did lead Barcelona again into the Champions League knockout rounds for the primary time in three years, it’s clearly one — or two — notches beneath the likes of Manchester City, Madrid and different heavyweights.
The 44-year-old Xavi, whose solely different teaching expertise was in Qatar, has acknowledged {that a} season with out silverware will probably be an excessive amount of for even a membership nice and fan favourite like him to outlive regardless of a contract by means of to the tip of subsequent season.
“All the coaches of big clubs depend on winning titles,” Xavi mentioned after the loss in Bilbao. (Cristiano Ronaldo Buys ‘Billionaires Island’ In Dubai – Report)
Official: Xavi turns into essentially the most shedding Spanish coach in FC Barcelona’s historical past. pic.twitter.com/ySPc1N8oXo
Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) January 24, 2024
“It is a fact, if we are not playing at a competitive level the normal thing would be for me to go. This is a major club. I am at Barça. Today we fought and worked hard, (but) if you don’t win, the coach takes the blame.”
Xavi returned to teaching his boyhood membership in November 2021 and efficiently led an overhaul of the staff — financed by the membership mortgaging its future — to win La Liga final season, its first main title because the exit of Lionel Messi. But Barcelona has been erratic this season, when it was imagined to get youthful and fitter, after the departures of veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to play with Messi in Miami.
Barcelona additionally misplaced key midfielder Gavi Páez and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to accidents, however high-profile reinforcements Ilkay Gundogan and João Félix have but to make up for his or her loss. Fortunately for Xavi, his staff returns dwelling to host Villarreal within the league on Saturday. Villarreal is winless in its final 4 video games general and in 14th place.
“We must win on Saturday,” Xavi mentioned.
“This team will turn it around by winning games. We must focus on the Spanish league and the Champions League.” Madrid can also be in motion on Saturday when it makes a visit to the Canary Islands to face a tough Las Palmas.
Normally, this might appear to be a comparatively straightforward outing for Carlo Ancelotti’s facet. But Las Palmas is exceeding expectations for a modest membership that received promotion final season. Las Palmas is in eighth place due to the second-stingiest protection which has allowed solely 17 objectives. Madrid has one of the best protection with solely 13 objectives allowed. Surprising front-runner Girona, which has performed another sport than Madrid and Barcelona, will go to Rafa Benítez’s Celta Vigo on Sunday.
