Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is still under fire for losing the Supercopa d’España last weekend to Real Madrid.
The former Al-Sadd manager talked a big game as he prepared to face the veteran Carlo Ancelotti, who matched his younger colleague’s energy in the pre-match pressers and showed the difference in experience levels between them on the pitch in Saudi Arabia.
He has since apologised for losing to Barcelona’s El Clasico rivals and his future is once again in the news. Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has reaffirmed the club’s decision to stick with Xavi and support his project, however, but many in the media are keeping a watchful eye out regardless.
There are no rumours of a replacement, however, which strengthens Barcelona’s reaffirmation of Xavi’s tenure to the media. His being voted as the fourth best manager in the world behind his former manager Pep Guardiola, Luciano Spaletti and Simone Inzaghi at the FIFA The Best awards on 15 January 2024 also gives credence to the work he is doing at the club.
The manager now focuses on trying to salvage Barcelona’s season and ensure they end it with at least a trophy.
They are still in the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey, and are also in the LaLiga title race. Their next fixture is a Copa del Rey round of 16 fixture against third-tier Spanish side Unionistas de Salamanca on 18 January. They will travel to Andalusia after that to face Real Betis in a very important LaLiga fixture three days later.
The noise about his future, however, will not go away anytime soon. As a result, he is considering a number of shakeups to his team, one of which includes playing Andreas Christensen as a pivot thanks to Oriol Romeu’s recent failures. Xavi has previously used Eric Garcia in this role but the midfielder is on loan at Girona, where he is recuperating from injury.
The absence of Gavi due to injury has caused Xavi to consider this shakeup. Another option is to get the club to sign another midfielder.
Barcelona have ruled out making any signings this January because of their financial situation but reports indicate that Xavi is pushing for signings.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has backed his former charge and urged the current crop of Barcelona players to step up behind Xavi and push the club to the heights it is supposed to be.
The former Barcelona captain turned Barcelona manager will be thinking heavily about his future while seeking ways to improve his squad mentally, physically and emotionally for what is about to be the toughest challenge of his young managerial career.
