Club legend Xavi has shared details of the challenges he faced during his time as Barcelona manager. He expressed feeling undervalued and constantly under close scrutiny despite his successful tenure.
Barcelona Secure Narrow Victory In Xavi’s Final Match As Manager
Barcelona, having already lost the La Liga title to Real Madrid, faced Sevilla on Sunday night (May 26) with little at stake. However, for many fans and players, it was an emotional occasion as it marked Xavi’s farewell as Barcelona manager.
Barcelona players performed admirably at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium and secured a 2-1 victory. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 15th minute, but Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri equalized shortly after. Fermin Lopez then scored the decisive goal for Barcelona in the 59th minute, securing the 2-1 win.
Xavi Gets Emotive In Post-Match Press Conference
In his final post-match press conference as Barcelona manager, Xavi reflected on the challenges he faced during his tenure. He also criticized the club’s leadership, calling on them to justify their decision to remove him from his position.
Xavi said:
“I don’t want to delve into the reasons behind the decision now. The leaders need to explain it because they are accountable.
“Everything I did caused a stir, and I have not had a peaceful environment to work in. I feel my efforts have not been adequately recognized.”
He mentioned that his reputation as a former player worked against him as a manager.
Xavi continued:
“High expectations were set due to my playing career, which backfired on me, leading to close scrutiny.”
He also offered a warning to his successor, predicting challenges ahead.
Xavi added:
“He [His successor] will face difficulties, but he must be patient as it is a demanding role. Winning is the key.
“Barça were ninth when I took over, and we improved to compete for the league, finishing second. The next season, we secured a double: league and Supercopa. This season, we fell short of our targets due to a few specific matches where we missed out.”
Reports suggest that Hansi Flick will be the new Barcelona manager, having been unemployed since his tenure with the German national team ended in September 2023.
