Xavi to step down as Barcelona head coach in June
Xavi has announced he will leave his position as Barcelona head coach at the end of the current campaign. The club’s former captain and midfield icon confirmed the news following Saturday’s 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal — a result which left the side ten points off La Liga leaders Real Madrid and eight from Catalan neighbours Girona. It was a result which added to the 4-1 Spanish Supercopa final defeat to Real Madrid earlier this month and comes days after Barcelona exited the Copa del Rey following a quarter-final loss at Athletic Bilbao.“I have decided I will not continue beyond June 30,” Xavi said after Saturday’s match. “It is a common sense decision for the good of the club.“I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public.“I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.”Xavi added: “Right now, if I think with my head and think about the club, the solution and the best thing is for me to leave in June, that is how I feel.“We have just agreed that with the president (Joan Laporta). We have a president who is brilliant. Him, Rafa Yuste, (sporting director), Deco…everyone is really capable.“I think this decision will help unblocking the team and the mood in here.“I just told the president Laporta now. We’ve had a meeting, it was a very human conversation, just with common sense. The trust from them is still fantastic.“But I believe this is the moment to say this. I don’t make my decisions following money, my contract will never be a problem.“I just make my choices following my heart. I don’t need anything more.”Xavi revealed that he had not told his squad before making his announcement to the media on Saturday evening.“It’s a cruel job, it wears you down,” Xavi added.“In Barcelona you always feel like you’re not valued, you’re mistreated — that’s how the club works.“From a mental health level, it’s tough too.“I’m a positive guy but the battery levels keep running out — and at some point, you realise there’s no point in staying.”Xavi, 44, was appointed as Barcelona managed in November 2021 as the permanent successor to Ronald Koeman, and guided the club to the title in La Liga in his first full season in charge of the club. However, he also oversaw the club’s elimination in back-to-back Champions League group stage campaigns and Barcelona also struggled in the Europa League, losing their quarter-final against Frankfurt in 2022 and in the knockout playoff round against Manchester United the following campaign. Barcelona did progress through their Champions League group stage this campaign but it was marked by disappointing defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp, while the team have not been able to replicate their strong form that saw them secure the league title in 2022-23.
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Article Link: https://theathletic.com/5141893/2024/...
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