Spanish media reports reported on Friday that Barcelona president Joan Laporta may dismiss team coach Xavi Hernardez after statements made by the latter about the “economic situation” in the Catalan club.
Local media reported that Xavi’s statements sparked… Laporta got angrywho did not travel yesterday to attend his club’s match in Almeria because he was not satisfied with coach Xavi’s statements before the match.
Young Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopes scored two goals to lead the Catalan club to a difficult victory over host Almeria, bottom of the standings 2-0, in the 36th round of the Spanish Football Championship yesterday, Thursday.
Xavi had highlighted the financial difficulties facing the club compared to the strength of Real Madrid, which was crowned league champion in Spain.
“I said the truth”
Catalan radio “RAK 1” said that club president Joan Laporta had decided to dismiss Xavi, while the daily newspaper “Sport” confirmed the same news. As for the newspaper “AS”, it indicated that Barcelona began searching for a new coach.
Xavi spoke about the financial difficulties facing the club compared to the strength of its most prominent competitor and rival, Real Madrid, and some of the largest European clubs in terms of capabilities.
Xavi said on Wednesday: “Barcelona fans must understand that we are not in the same situation (as these clubs).” The coach stuck to his words on Thursday when asked about Laporta not attending the Almeria match.
“They did not tell me anything personally,” Xavi told reporters late on Thursday. “We traveled with the vice president and several managers, all as normal.”
He continued: “I said what I think is true, that we will fight for all the titles, with a lot of hope and ambition, but the situation is not easy,” adding: “We are working very well, and most importantly of all, it is the club to change this situation.”
The decision to leave and then return
In January, with the team suffering technically, the coach said that he would leave at the end of the season, before… He changes his mind Last month, after a noticeable improvement in the team’s performance and results, despite its exit from the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The royal team stripped its Catalan counterpart of the league title without any significant difficulty, as the Merengues suffered one loss throughout the season, securing the title 4 stages before the end of the season. Real also succeeded in reaching the Champions League final, while Barcelona suffered a crushing loss at the hands of Real in the Spanish Super Cup final, before being eliminated by… Athletic Bilbao From the cup.
In April, Xavi (44 years old) said that he was “full of hope” and that the fans, the players and “above all the confidence of the president and sporting director Deco” were among the most important reasons to convince him to stay.
Laporta said he was pleased By staying healed In the club and that it is good news for the stability of the team.