I left the Olympic Stadium with cold feet unbecoming of the weather, which announced spring temperatures. It was my fault: there has always been a microclimate on the cursed mountain, a cold accompanied by a kind of fog in the football spectacle that ended in a historic humiliation: 60 years later, Barça scored five goals at home again ( even if it is a rental apartment).
It is difficult to explain that a team that has Cancelo, Araujo, De Jong, Gundogan, Joao Felix, Lewandoski or Pedri on its payroll comes back one game and ends up being harassed by Hacendado’s Vilarreal (Mercadona’s team was Riquelme, Forlán or Guille Franco 2006). So difficult to explain that this same constellation of Panini cards was punished with indifference by Real Madrid in the Super Cup final in Ryad. Something is happening with Xavi, and make no mistake, it is neither permanent guardiolismo nor a delicate press unlike that of Madrid, clearly more dedicated to his club, whether civil or criminal.
Back home, the radio tells of various meetings in the Olympic camp that end with Xavi’s press conference announcing that he is leaving on June 30. Xavi the coach dressed as Xavi the footballer and, with a skill and intelligence that we had forgotten, he makes a masterful announcement. He knows that he has all the lottery numbers that Laporta will take on June 30, he moves forward to events and, in a decision that reflects great Barcelonaism, he cuts off his head in public. He is a kick forward with a tremendous risk: that of immediacy.
Barça is a club that has never known how to manage the future. A roulette with everything on June 30 as if Getafe on Wednesday did not exist, as if the Champions League tie against Naples was not important, as if we had to draw a thick (and stupid) veil over the terrifying second round that awaits to the team. And perhaps that is the key to everything: the skillful signaling that Xavi makes to the team. “I’m leaving, you stay. It is your time.” Jabois already wrote it in the best times of Guardiola’s Barça: “A game is not over until Xavi says what he thought.” Xavi’s best move as a coach was on Saturday in Montjuïc… and at night that is when Barça’s crises come to life.
