With pressure on Barcelona manager Xavi, the former midfielder has described it as a thankless job. Barcelona played a 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at the Nou Camp midweek.
On Sunday afternoon, the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu will be agog as the La Liga champions Real Madrid square up against FC Barcelona. Both teams go into this game in different forms. Despite Barca sitting atop the La Liga standings (same points as Real Madrid, but with a superior goal difference), it is one game that is hard to predict.
Undoubtedly, El Clasico is the biggest game in club football. While Real Madrid has had a modest summer in which the only acquisitions were Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea (free transfer) and Aurelien Tchouameni joining from Monaco for €80 million, Barcelona had a tumultuous summer.
The Catalan giants made a rash of signings with Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich – €45m), Raphinha (Leeds – €58m), Jules Kounde (Sevilla – €50m), Franck Kessie (AC Milan – free), Marcos Alonso (Chelsea – free), Hector Bellerin (Arsenal – free) and Andreas Christensen (Chelsea – free).
While they are doing well in La Liga, it has been a different ball game in the Champions League. Xavi has described his job at the Nou Camp as a thankless job.
Xavi: Barca job a thankless task
Barcelona has been in solid form in La Liga, but their performance in the Champions League contrasts what they have done in La Liga. While they struggle to find some La Liga form in the Champions League, they go head-to-head with direct rivals Real Madrid on Sunday afternoon.
Despite what has transpired at the Nou Camp, Xavi described his job at Barcelona as a thankless task. He claims it is better to be a player at Barcelona than a coach. The former Barca midfielder, however, insists that his side is moving in the right direction. Barcelona is close to exiting the Champions League group stage for the second time in about a year with Xavi the Superintendent of the feat.
Xavi did not exempt himself from the travails at the Nou Camp. Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Xavi said he understands the criticism because he knows where he is and recognizes the pressure of the job. He said the team slipped up when they could not afford it. Xavi said he understands the fans are sad and disappointed and shares their pain.
Injuries, a sacking and the El Clasico
Barcelona has conceded just one goal in La Liga this season, but the Catalan giants have let in seven in four games. By all standards, it is a terrible record, and Xavi knows something needs to change or likely be out of work.
With the pressure mounting on Xavi, there were talks of the former Al Sadd manager losing his job, but the club president has come out to back Xavi. Xavi, who replaced Ronald Koeman in November, has the support of Joan Laporta, who believes he is the right man to turn the situation around.
The last El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Barcelona with a surprise 4-0 win over Real Madrid. Barcelona will want to repeat the feat as they seek to secure their place at the top of the table and earn bragging rights over their traditional rivals.
Barcelona has a few injuries. Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Hector Bellerin are all injured, but Xavi says Jules Kounde is “100 per cent fit” and ready to play again. Xavi wants to use the El Clasico as a rebound spring.
