An elimination for Napoli would bring the coach to the brink of dismissal
Xavi’s situation at Barcelona could become unsustainable. The draw against Granada on Sunday (11th) confirmed the crisis that the Catalan team has suffered under the guidance of the coach and idol of the fans. And the former midfielder’s days in charge of Barça may be coming to an end.
All eyes are on the Champions League round of 16 Naples, next week. The result of this match could leave Xavi in charge of Barça for a short period. A possible elimination could cause the coach to fall into disarray, given that former defender Rafa Márquez would be a good candidate to occupy the bench until the end of the season.
President Joan Laporta, who continues to protect Xavi within the club, has started to show clear signs of exhaustion with the club’s project, as seen in the Olympic Stadium area on Sunday (11). His advisors and trusted people around him have been pushing him for some time to make a decision regarding the coach, as a first step towards a reaction to the season. For the managers, a place in the Champions League would be Barcelona’s salvation.
Sports director Deco also seems to have lost hope in Xavi’s work, especially after his latest statements to the Portuguese media. The former midfielder, however, denied being exhausted by Barcelona’s current training model.
According to the newspaper ”AS”, Xavi is the first to clarify that, if he does not get through the round of 16 of the European competition, he will not continue to coach the Catalans. The coach has always said that he would never be a problem for the club, so if he understands that the best solution is to leave Barcelona, he will do so without problems.
Xavi, however, still believes he can revive Barcelona. Obviously the goal in La Liga is to finish second Girona, and finish with at least second place, guaranteed. In this way he would not only have a place in the Spanish Super Cup, but also participation in the next Champions League.
What is certain is that, regardless of what happens in the match against Real Sociedad, Saturday (17), in Vigo, Xavi will continue. The coach’s ruling will be in the two matches against Napoli. An elimination against San Paolo would bring forward the end of the coach’s project at Barça by a few months.
Source: Terra
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