After Barcelona’s resounding victory against Atlético de Madrid, the Metropolitano became a Blaugrana party. In the locker room tunnel, president Joan Laporta hugged all the players and even commented on the game with Atlético’s president, Enrique Cerezo, and João Félix. After scoring against his former team, the winger on loan from Atlético once again insisted on his desire to continue as a Blaugrana. Given the complicated financial situation of the entity, with no salary margin to register new signings, another transfer is being considered for next year. João Félix has a contract with Atlético until 2029. While they plan the next season, the board and the team continue to strengthen their confidence and aspire to be able to close a good year. “There are nine games left and, although it is difficult because it does not depend on us, we will continue trying,” they insisted yesterday from the sports city after reviewing and analyzing the match against Atlético. A victory that put the finishing touch to the great week for Xavi’s Barça, which is also in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The mental and football metamorphosis that the team has experienced in recent weeks is explained by the following reasons:

After the victory against Atlético, Laporta also spoke with Xavi. It is customary for the coach and the president to talk after every game and of course the Atlético stadium was no exception. In these small conclaves the sports vice president Rafa Yuste, who has never hidden his predilection for Xavi, and the sports director Deco are always joined. Now, after the victories against Naples in the Champions League and against Atlético in the League, they are not the only ones. The rest of the sports commission (Enric Masip and Joan Soler) also spoke to congratulate the coach. A gesture that comforts Xavi, a club man who always asked for unity and who has seen how, in just six weeks, his Barça has gone from suffering to secure the fourth place that guarantees being in the Champions League next year to being second. eight points behind the leader, Madrid. If this remains the case, Barça will also ensure its presence in the Spanish Super Cup with the corresponding income of six million for participating, a figure highly celebrated by the economic area that, after the departure of corporate director Maribel Meléndez and economic vice president Eduard Romeu, led by financial director Manel del Rio and treasurer Ferran Olivé.

With their quality, the very young Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí have broken down the wall. Cubarsí, at only 17 years old, has become the undisputed axis of Barça’s defense alongside Araújo, while Lamine Yamal is the great promise of the Blaugrana offensive. Héctor Fort (17) and Fermín (20) have also responded with solvency, who, in complicated fields like the Metropolitano, solved the last-minute losses of Cancelo and Christensen. They were not afraid when Xavi told them that they had to go out to play on the same Sunday, quite the opposite. Trained at La Masia, Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Héctor Fort and Fermín transmit a football identity and an attitude that reinforce the club’s training model. They also excite the rest of the young people who see how the lift between the lower categories and the first team is not impossible.

Young talent blends seamlessly with the experience of veterans. Footballers like Gündogan (33) or captain Sergi Roberto (32) have become Xavi’s extension on the field, speaking with his teammates and providing calm and clarity in the game. The mettle of Ter Stegen (31) has also been key. Since he reappeared in Granada, the team has only conceded six goals in the last eight games. Furthermore, in the last four league games they have kept clean sheets. The stability that the German transmits has helped players like Koundé (25) to improve their performance. Finally, the growth of Lewandowski (35) stands out, who against Atlético had one of his best performances of the season with a goal and two assists. He has already accumulated seven goals since Xavi announced his departure on January 27, two of them against Naples. “We all feel good. It is time to take a step forward,” the Pole stressed in the Metropolitan.

After announcing their delayed goodbye, Barça has climbed to second place and has reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League, stringing together seven wins and three draws. On this path, Xavi continues to defend football meritocracy regardless of his age. His management has generated a healthy competitiveness in the locker room in which everyone feels important. “To this day, nothing has changed. Starting on July 2, I will rest,” Xavi insists, without completely ruling out the possibility that a good end to the sporting year might make him change his mind.