Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has once again brought up the prospect of his departure, should he finish the season without a trophy. Athletic Club outlast Barcelona in extra time of their Copa del Rey quarter-final, advancing 4-2, leaving Barcelona with just the Champions League and La Liga to fight for, the summit of which is eight points in the distance.
Xavi said shortly after the match that they were not far off a result, despite the fact his side ran out of gas.
When the draw came out I already said that we had been unfortunate, because a single match in San Mames is always very difficult. We took the lead on the scoreboard when we conceded the first goal and we even had the winning goal in Lamine’s last chance before extra time. To rebuild from Saturday, to think about the League, the Champions League and compete in it. We can be proud, at least we have tried until the end,” he told MD.
Earlier this month Xavi had been blunt about the fact that if Barcelona did not win anything, or if he felt the squad were no longer responding to him, then he would leave at the end of the season. It was a topic he touched on again during his press conference.
“What I said is that I will have to leave if I do not win titles, or if we do not compete for them. You ring the alarm bells, but you are doing surveys on whether I will continue as a coach or not. When you don’t win, the coach is singled out. Today we competed for the title, but in the end, it’s the same at all big clubs. If by the end of the season we are not at a competitive level, I’ll go.”
Previously he had noted how proud he was, and went on to declare the future was bright though, saying “today, is the start of a new era, whether I am here or not. There is a future.”
The biggest positive for Barcelona was undoubtedly the performances of their youngsters. Despite missing two gilt-edged chances, Lamine Yamal was arguably Barcelona’s best player, while Hector Fort and Pau Cubarsi excelled in different circumstances too. The next major test for Barcelona is Napoli in the Champions League, which Xavi has just under a month to prepare for.
BillyDedon
0
Stop dreaming. Yes coach matters a lot. But players matter too. If you put Sir Fergusson and Pep is same team to coach this Barca squad they still won’t achieve anything notable.
That's your wired think we have seen good coaches do wonders with average players, look at what Xavi Alonso is doing with Leverkusen and how Emery transformed Aston Villa from a team that was battling relegation to a team that can challenge for top 4 and there are many other examples of things like that and you supporting clueless Xavi.
pium
0
We have seen coaches transform teams which a lot of people think is not good enough, check Bilbao position on the table and compare their budget to that of Barcelona and the players you will realise that a good coach can do it even with average players.
Stop dreaming. Yes coach matters a lot. But players matter too. If you put Sir Fergusson and Pep is same team to coach this Barca squad they still won’t achieve anything notable.
BillyDedon
0
You live a fairy tale world bro. Just wake up from your dream.
We have seen coaches transform teams which a lot of people think is not good enough, check Bilbao position on the table and compare their budget to that of Barcelona and the players you will realise that a good coach can do it even with average players.
pium
0
pep beat almighty Madrid with kids during it's time. so you are pointless
Why he couldn’t beat Real Madrid three years ago with possibly the best squad in the world in that UCL semi final? Yes he beat them last year, but again with further more additions to that strong team. Pep is tactically good but if you think he can do wonders with this bunch of teams every team in the world will offer him 50m /100m salary and get him instead of spending on players.
pium
0
Pep will build this team with good tactics and training and those players will be firing
You live a fairy tale world bro. Just wake up from your dream.
BillyDedon
0
He cannot fight mightily Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with this bunch of kids. Agree he won’t lose games as yesterday, but no coach can challenge the team Real Madrid in domestic level have with this squad.
Pep will build this team with good tactics and training and those players will be firing
HammedAbati
0
He cannot fight mightily Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with this bunch of kids. Agree he won’t lose games as yesterday, but no coach can challenge the team Real Madrid in domestic level have with this squad.
pep beat almighty Madrid with kids during it's time. so you are pointless
fozckopstu
1
xavi is a fool... there's misunderstanding in dressing room but they're keeping it secret within themselves....It's oblivious that xavi is a failure
panchamtutul
1
time to left xavi, you are not good
sezaklnuyz
0
xavi please leave this team don't spoil it finished our president is that hw you said by the time you want to be our president
pium
0
Pep will re shape this players like this and carry that Cup
He cannot fight mightily Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with this bunch of kids. Agree he won’t lose games as yesterday, but no coach can challenge the team Real Madrid in domestic level have with this squad.
Beocemopsy
5
So this isn’t somehow Real Madrids fault as well?
Mor2022
0
I thought brokelona fans said Pedri and De jong were the missing piece ? What happened?[Crylaugh] Overrated bunch of scraps 🤣
there are still key players missing specially Ter stegen and Gavi cancelo too.thes players have not their potent replacement in the team conatary to Madrid they have enough players to pick every missing player in their has got his ready made replacement that's why injuries didn't affect them
Malford
0
Can you please sell the club? Yes coach is an issue, but no coach can do anything with this bunch of overrated kids. We need good players. We need money.
Pep will re shape this players like this and carry that Cup
Zikabcltz
3
Wasting time talking about other teams, that's the result
lasbiklmuy
1
Mr construction lose again 🤣🤣
pium
4
Can you please sell the club? Yes coach is an issue, but no coach can do anything with this bunch of overrated kids. We need good players. We need money.
Showex
0
Still don’t know why i haven’t heard about his sack today
Renilmop
4
dejong and pedri playing and now they are saying gavi[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
fizabcdyz
2
New era begun last year and New era begin this year again 😃😃😃
ttttttttttuser
3
I thought brokelona fans said Pedri and De jong were the missing piece ? What happened?[Crylaugh] Overrated bunch of scraps 🤣
miadilmopy
1
Xavi is not talking about real Madrid match real Madrid and Almeria yesterday bin wendnesday 24 February 2024 referre help Barcelona because Barcelona should get red card but nothing Barcelona president Joan Laporta yesterday being 24 February 2024 you that talking 👄 about referre is help real Madrid referre help Barcelona
adedefender
6
When Athletico Madrid won Real Madrid by the same scoreline, Barca fans rushed to congratulate ATM for having a revenge for them over their adversaries - Madrid... Karma