Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has announced that he will step down from his position at the end of the season.
Xavi made the announcement during a press conference following his team’s 5-3 defeat against Villarreal in La Liga. The loss has put Barcelona, the reigning champions, 10 points behind Real Madrid, who are currently leading the league. Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has announced that he will step down from his position at the end of the season.
The Barcelona boss said, “I will leave Barcelona in June. We have reached a point of no return. It’s time for change. As a Culé, I think that it’s time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June.”
“I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public. I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.”
“Right now, if I think with my head and think about the club, the solution and the best thing is for me to leave in June, that is how I feel. We have just agreed that with the president (Joan Laporta). We have a president who is brilliant. Him, Rafa Yuste, (sporting director), Deco…everyone is really capable.
“I think this decision will help unblocking the team and the mood in here. I just told the president Laporta now. We’ve had a meeting, it was a very human conversation, just with common sense. The trust from them is still fantastic.
“But I believe this is the moment to say this. I don’t make my decisions following money, my contract will never be a problem. I just make my choices following my heart. I don’t need anything more.”
There has been speculation about Xavi’s future at the club recently. This comes after the team’s 4-1 loss to rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and their humiliating 4-2 defeat against Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey. The Catalan giants have now conceded nine goals in their last two games, including their loss to Villarreal on Saturday.
The reigning Spanish champions are currently 10 points behind league leaders Girona after Saturday’s result. They will try to recover on Wednesday when they face Osasuna. Additionally, Joan Laporta and the team must now begin the search for a new manager.
