The internal debate and doubts among part of the board return with the continuity of Xavi Hernández. There are two games left to finish the season and anything is possible in this emotional and unpredictable Barça. It was last April 24 when Xavi and president Joan Laporta hugged at the latter’s home. The president opened the cava and even the cigar box. And they had sushi for dinner on a night that was announced as definitive. The day began with the board meeting and with many dissenting voices saying that a change on the bench was necessary. However, after talking in the sports city with sports director Deco and Alejandro Echevarría, the president’s right-hand man, Xavi grabbed the car and headed to Laporta’s home. There he offered his explanations and convinced Laporta with an emotional message of a few minutes in which he explained the reasons why he was the most suitable to continue coaching the team.
Xavi said that, after announcing his delayed farewell in January, he had felt the support of the players, also of some managers such as vice president Rafa Yuste. And he was convinced that he could get the most out of his team to win titles. Three weeks later, emotions have once again surfaced in Can Barça. The defeat in Girona did not sit well with the president or those closest to him. “This cannot be,” Laporta said in Montilivi.
Second place was getting complicated. And those closest to the president who had already expressed that they were not clear about Xavi’s continuity were gaining strength again. If Barça did not finish second, anything was possible. Now, despite beating Real Sociedad and Almería, the atmosphere remains tense. Neither Laporta nor Deco traveled to Almería yesterday. The club alleged professional and personal reasons but there are those who perceive within the club that it is the result of the disconnection with the coach. Especially after Xavi’s words in the previous press conference against Almería where he used a much more realistic speech. The coach warned of the club’s difficult economic situation to psyche up Barcelona fans after the blank year. “The situation is very difficult. The current Barça has nothing to do with the one from 25 years ago, when the coach arrived and said I want this one, this one and this one,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t want titles,” he added. His words did not sit well with Laporta because he considers that they are different and incompatible with those of the exciting speech on sushi day.
“I’m really excited. I see it as an opportunity. I still have the honor of being in the best club in the world. I said what I think. That the situation is not the best and we are working together to be in the best possible situation to strengthen ourselves. But we will fight for the titles with enthusiasm and ambition, that does not change our reality,” Xavi insisted in Almería. The coach is not aware of any move by Laporta. “I’m calm,” he insisted. There are 9 days left until the course ends, enough time for more spins. This disoriented Barça is also unpredictable.
