Xavi does not leave Barcelona because of “fatigue”, but because of (bad) results |  Soccer |  Sports

Xavi does not leave Barcelona because of “fatigue”, but because of (bad) results | Soccer | Sports

Xavi, during Barça team training to prepare for the La Liga match against Alavés.Alejandro Garcia (EFE)

“I’m leaving because I’ve been here for two and a half years and the process of coaching Barça is not worth it,” Xavi Hernández admitted yesterday during the press conference before the match against Alavés (6:30 p.m.) . ; DAZN), during the 23rd day of the championship. “In other countries, this profession is perhaps appreciated. But not me,” he added about his decision to leave the Barça club at the end of the season. The coach introduced new variables into his decision, contradictory to what was expressed in his story initial: “I’m not leaving because of fatigue, it’s not for mental health reasons. It’s not because of you, nor because of the criticism. “I’m not tired of football. “He is leaving, he explained yesterday, because “expectations are not met” and because of the “results” of the campaign: out of the Copa del Rey and eliminated in the semi-final of the Super Cup, the Barça is fourth in the 10-10 Championship points of the leader, Real Madrid. In 123 games at the helm of the team, the coach has accumulated 26 defeats: he is the Spanish coach with the most defeats in the history of the club, above the 25 of Juan José Nogués, who coached Barça between 1942 and 1944.

“The work I have done is not valued,” Xavi said three days after announcing his departure. And he added yesterday: “Football people are really congratulating us. I think we did a very good job.

He continued yesterday: “When I arrived, we had a good season, and we came second. The next year didn’t go very well and now, the third year, we are not meeting expectations. I made this decision because of that, not because of the criticism. The club needs a change of direction. The Terrassa coach will be about to complete three seasons at the head of the team: he arrived in November 2021 to replace Koeman. To find an older coach, we have to go back to Pep Guardiola, who led the bench for four years (from 2008-2009 to 2011-2012).

However, since Guardiola he has only been able to lift one Copa del Rey. Above are Luis Enrique, with 76.24% – 138 wins in 181 matches -, Ernesto Valverde, with 66.89% – 97 out of 145 – and Guardiola, with 72.47% – 179 out of 247 -. In Xavi’s first season the team had a defeat rate of 21.6%, while in the second it dropped to 20.75% and in the current season he has accumulated 21, 21%. “We lacked continuity in the game to evolve further, especially this season,” Xavi explained.

Against Villarreal, Barcelona conceded five goals. Since August 30, 1994, Barça had not conceded five goals at home. If we only take the League into account, we would have to go back to January 27, 1963. Just before the match, Xavi was already anticipating his farewells. “I hope you miss me too,” he said. And he compared himself to the rest of the coaches who have held his position since Guardiola. “Fortunately or unfortunately, I have had to see coaches suffer. I saw some here, at Barça, winning the Champions League and suffering for its continuity,” shared the Barça coach.

“I am very grateful to Xavi, because he always highlighted the efforts to improve the squad and have a good team, despite the economic difficulties,” Laporta said. A squad value which has increased year after year since the arrival of Xavi on the bench and despite economic difficulties. This year the team is valued at 850.80 million euros, while the previous year it was 836.80 and Terrassa’s first year 735.60, according to Transfermarkt.

The 16 days of La Liga and the round of 16 of the Champions League await us, the only possible titles for Barcelona. “First, tomorrow (today) Alavés, a difficult rival at home. We didn’t do our homework and we didn’t measure up to the competition; and Girona and Madrid, yes. From there, I prefer to take it step by step”, said the coach. In his pocket, before the end of his mandate, there is already the Super Cup and the League from last season, with the possibility of end the year blank or seek another title at the last minute.

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