After an extensive chain of events that captured the essence of Barcelona’s chaotic current situation, it was finally decided that Xavi would remain as manager on Wednesday night.
At 21:00 local time, it was confirmed that talks at an emergency meeting held at Joan Laporta’s residence in the heart of the city led to an agreement between all parties.
In attendance alongside the club president were Xavi, sporting director Deco and managers Rafa Yuste and Alejandro Echevarria – Barca’s five biggest decision-makers.
Xavi said after a shock 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal on January 27 that he would retire as a manager at the end of this season, describing the role as a “brutal job” that “wears you down”.
Almost three months later, his U-turn reflects several factors – including a positive upswing in performance since – and those who have been following events closely would not be surprised by his change of heart.
But that still didn’t stop everything from developing dramatically – and in a way that even weakens his position.
This week was always expected to bring a turning point in Xavi’s future.
Laporta said several times recently that he hoped to convince Xavi to stay and fulfill his contract, which runs until the summer of 2025. But while the team was still competing in the Champions League and chasing faint hopes of a La Liga return, the matter was not discussed in detail.
After Paris Saint-Germain crashed out of the quarter-finals and after Real Madrid took an 11-point lead with victory in Sunday’s Clasico, it was time for decisions to be made.
Despite those results, Xavi felt he had the support of the dressing room and that the fighting spirit shown in the 13-match unbeaten run that preceded last week’s two defeats showed signs of that. He told Laporta early this week what the president had suspected for months: that he was willing to reconsider the resignation he announced in January and stay on.
On Monday, several Barcelona players exchanged messages with each other, sharing their feelings that Xavi staying was the most likely outcome for next season – given the manager’s reaction to them after the Madrid defeat.
However, sources close to Xavi – who, like all those quoted here, wished to remain anonymous to protect their position – said the manager wanted the club to make some changes to avoid the distraction of the past.
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They said Xavi’s biggest demand related to the transfer window, where the manager felt his vision of what the team needed had not been supported in the past, and that he also wanted assurances that Barcelona could operate in the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad. .
Xavi and Laporta, pictured in January (Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
This did not seem to match what the directors had in mind. Sources involved in Barcelona’s sporting policy said the club were in no position to promise big signings, just as Xavi was in no position to make big demands – citing results against PSG and Madrid.
In this context, the name of Rafael Marquez as a potential replacement for Xavi began to appear again in the local media. Senior sources at the club said, contrary to what they had said months ago, that Marquez was ready to step up. The 45-year-old Mexican has managed Barcelona Atletic, the club’s reserve side who play in Spain’s third tier and was previously described as an “emergency measure” by Deco.
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But both positions, from the side of the club and Xavi, were set. They agreed to hold a meeting and have an honest discussion to plan the way forward.
On Wednesday, a board meeting was scheduled at offices near the Camp Nou. Club sources said it was a regular meeting, one that takes place every month. They also insisted that Xavi’s future would not be on the agenda. It wasn’t surprising, it was.
The meeting started at 2 pm and ended a little over two hours later. Laporta was subsequently reported to have gone home while Deco and Xavi (neither of whom attended the meeting) were seen holding their own meeting at Barca’s training facility west of the city.
At that point, some sources at the club began to inform the local media that key decision-makers in the board had serious doubts about Xavi. They said the recent results had rekindled critical sentiment among Laporta’s party allies.
Xavi was sent off during PSG’s loss last week (Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Some managers have been unhappy for a long time with Xavi’s handling of the team’s training as well. It has been their opinion that Barcelona have lacked proper physical preparation for some time. They have not been impressed with the number of days off the manager has given his squad, and have previously labeled sessions as “too short and too light”.
Xavi’s camp have always denied the claims, with sources close to the manager’s coaching staff saying they have trained as much as the game plan has allowed. They have always seen the squad as completely prepared from a physical point of view.
When Deco and Xavi met on Wednesday night, an atmosphere of uncertainty had been created. There was much speculation in the local media that what seemed the most likely outcome, that Xavi would stay, was now far from guaranteed. Multiple sources at the club said Athletic there was more to come.
In the picture, Xavi and Deco were seen leaving Barca’s training ground in their cars at around 7pm – and it soon became clear they were on their way to the day’s resolution at Laporta’s home.
As reports from local media outlet RAC1 first emerged, Xavi made an emotional speech to Laporta at that meeting. Insisting he believes he is capable of leading the squad, he claimed Barca needed another year of stability.
The conversation, between the club’s most important group of leaders, ended with the conclusion that, regardless of what had been discussed at the board meeting earlier, Xavi truly had the club’s confidence and ended a fantastic day.
That means Xavi will remain in his role, as he had wanted since he changed his mind. But the way the whole process played out hasn’t left him in as strong a position as you might have expected, even just a few days ago.
Damage to Xavi and what it means for Marquez – analysis
From Athletic’s Barcelona reporters Pol Ballus and Laia Cervello Herrero.
Pol: I expected Xavi to stay, but not at all the way it turned out. Wednesday brought Xavi just further proof that he has some detractors within the club – and it’s not the healthiest atmosphere in which to build a football project.
Laia: We already knew and have previously reported the displeasure in the board with Xavi. There were concerns about how the team trained their players in the physical department, this has always been there.
But there were also local media reports, which came via a club briefing, which suggested Barca had insisted Xavi replace his key staff, including his brother and assistant manager Oscar Hernandez. It’s hard not to see it as a way to show Xavi, because I don’t think he would ever accept it.
Xavi and his brother Oscar Hernandez on the Barca touchline (Image: Diego Souto/Getty Images)
pole: I agree with this, but either way I don’t think Xavi’s narrative ends up being strengthened here. And in January, he said his decision to step down was something he had given a lot of thought to. He mentioned the pressure from the entorno and hinted at mental problems.
He said leaving was the best thing for the club as he did not see himself as the man to turn things around. Has it all really changed? I don’t think any of this will improve next season if there aren’t good results.
Laia: It can also be translated into the dressing room. What happened on Wednesday has shown everyone that the club does not have a clear united focus and I would not blame the players if they see Xavi’s authority has been weakened.
pole: What happened in the Royal Antwerp trip before the Champions League match (3-2 loss), when Laporta intervened in his game selection, certainly did not help matters. While locker room confidence probably won’t be his biggest problem from here on out…
Laia: Yes, they’ve all been pretty loyal to the manager. This is not a rebellious dressing room; some strong voices sometimes disagree with Xavi, but the general atmosphere is supportive.
Don’t you think Rafael Marquez will be disappointed though?
pole: His hopes may have been raised at the start of this week… but in my opinion he was a big risk, especially for the board. If they had chosen Marquez, the control in the board would have been tighter: it would be their man, their gambling at a vulnerable moment. And if it had been a bad start, the club’s financial situation would have left them with little chance of changing direction. Everyone would ask Laporta’s board for answers.
Xavi is not regarded as the best manager in the world and fan opinion may have been divided after recent results, but he is still a respected figure who knows the team’s strengths and weaknesses. That also leaves Marquez as a backup if needed.
Laia: Now, finally, there are no more excuses for the administration. They have everything they need to start planning next season, which is the most important for Barcelona – although we can expect the summer to be crazy again.
(Top image: Alberto Gardin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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