Xavi Hernández knew he was in the spotlight, the center of all eyes. It could be his last game on the Barça bench at the Olímpic de Montjuïc. But at the end of the match resolved with a convincing victory (3-0), the Terrassa coach knew the same thing as before the start of the duel: no one from the board had informed him about his continuity. Before appearing before the media, Xavi had not yet met with president Joan Laporta in the bowels of the Estadi Olímpic. The meeting started shortly before 10 p.m.
“If I had news I would tell you. I don’t have any news, it tastes bad to me. The situation is the same. The president has only conveyed to us the importance of beating Rayo to ensure second place and confidence. I usually see Laporta after games. If it is not today, it will be tomorrow,” commented the Terrassa coach.
During the match against Rayo, some sectors of the stands expressed their support for the coach, as well as timid cries of “Laporta resign.” The coach referred to this with good grace: “It’s difficult for me. That the fans are with me is appreciated. It has always been with me. I have noticed this esteem. But as a culé, when they whistle at a person, whether it’s the president or a player, I don’t like it. I think we need unity, we all have to come together. It’s an unpleasant situation that I don’t like. This must be redirected and we will do it.”
Regarding his possible dismissal, Xavi Hernández expressed his wish that the club, Laporta, be clear with him. “We have enough trust and friendship to talk about it. I understand the whole mess, but they haven’t informed me. “I think confidence hasn’t changed.”
Xavi denied having had any communication at the end of the match. “No, we haven’t talked, I guess we’ll see each other now,” he pointed out, aware that it would be essential to have a conversation.
“I figure we have to talk somehow. But I’m calm. With Rafa Yuste I traveled to Almería and they transmitted calm and tranquility to me. The project and the ambition do not change for me,” said the coach seriously and calmly.
“The president has always stood up to me, he has been honest and I suppose he will be when we see each other,” commented the one from Terrassa.
“Trust has not changed at all. They haven’t mentioned any changes to me for three weeks.”
Pedri, author of a double against Rayo, asked about the future of the bench did not want to comment on Xavi’s continuity: “The locker room was focused on this match, we wanted to close it now to go to Seville without risking anything. “We are more focused on what happens on the field and not on what happens outside,” said the Canary Islander, throwing balls out.
