- Xavi announced in January his intention to leave Barça at the end of the season
- Defeat in Sunday’s Clásico would leave them 11 points behind Real Madrid
- Arsenal must recover in Munich; They can’t transfer the fear of Villa’s defeat to the Champions League clash – Listen to the Podcast Everything is beginning
Outgoing Barcelona coach Xavi could be replaced before the end of the season if defeat in Sunday’s Clasico follows their exit from the Champions League, according to reports in Spain.
Xavi has remained firm that he will not reverse his decision to leave the club at the end of the campaign despite moves by the hierarchy to keep him in the job.
However, following Tuesday night’s 4-1 defeat to PSG, which knocked them out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, the 44-year-old risks losing his place in the coming days. .
According AS DiaryDefeat against Real Madrid, which would practically confirm their rivals as LaLiga champions, could lead to his immediate departure and replacement by Barcelona B coach and former teammate, Rafael Márquez.
The report claims that the club is not in a financial position to attract a higher profile manager.
According to reports in Spain, outgoing Barcelona coach Xavi could leave the club before the end of the season
On Tuesday, club president Joan Laporta had indicated that they would continue trying to persuade their former midfielder to stay beyond the campaign.
Former teammate and current Barcelona B coach Rafael Márquez is the favorite for the job.
The development comes just a day after Barcelona president Joan Laporta hinted at his desire to keep Xavi in his job beyond the end of the current term.
“We will discuss this issue at the end of the season.” he told Mundo Deportivo. ‘[Xavi] He is doing very well. It was expressed in the sense in which it was expressed, I understand that everything is open and everything is reviewable.
‘I understood that there were circumstances that led him to do what he did. But at the end of the season we will talk. There’s time to talk about it.’
Former Barça coach and current PSG coach, Luis Enrique, also asked that the legendary midfielder stay, after his team won the exciting round of 16 tie.
“Xavi is the ideal coach for Barça,” said the 2015 Champions League-winning coach. “I hope and wish that he continues to be that way for many more years, but it is not my decision.”
Xavi’s answer was a resounding ‘no’ when he was later asked about the possibility of staying.
Following a 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal in January, he announced he would leave the club after two and a half years in charge, citing a lack of respect, appreciation and increasing pressure amid a difficult period.
Although, interestingly, Barcelona proceeded to go on a 13-match unbeaten streak, which ultimately ended with defeat to the Parisians.
Luis Enrique, former Barça and current PSG coach, implored Xavi to stay at the club and said that he is his “ideal” boss
Enrique’s team expelled Barça from the Champions League after an incident-filled 4-1 victory
He told reporters last week that he was convinced his improvement in form would not have been possible without his announcement, but maintained that “nothing has changed” when asked if he would reconsider.
Defeat in Sunday’s El Clásico could allow Carlo Ancelotti’s team to open an 11-point lead over Barcelona with eight games left to play.
