Barcelona’s iconic figure, Xavi Hernandez, has declared his decision to step down as the manager after the season. Following Barcelona’s 5-3 home defeat against Villarreal, leaving them ten points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, Xavi emphasized the need for change, stating that the club has reached a “point of no return.” The decision, made days ago, aims to avoid becoming a problem for the club.

Barcelona has faced a challenging season, struggling for form and enduring criticism. Xavi’s contract was set to expire at the season’s end, eliminating the possibility of an extension. The media scrutiny and the demanding nature of coaching at Barcelona were acknowledged by Xavi, expressing the difficulty of emulating a managerial legacy like Sir Alex Ferguson’s at Manchester United.

Xavi took charge of Barcelona in 2021, securing a league title and a Spanish Super Cup during his tenure. Despite domestic success, Barcelona faced setbacks in European competitions under Xavi, exiting the Champions League group stages twice. Financial turbulence at the club posed additional challenges, and Xavi, known for stabilizing the team in recent years, acknowledged the mental toll of coaching at Barcelona.

FC Barcelona performance and stats

FC Barcelona is currently 3rd in the La Liga with 44 points.

In the last 21 games, it has won 13 times, drawn 5 times, and lost 3 times. In its last match, FC Barcelona lost 3-5 against Villarreal.​​

It has a positive goal difference after scoring 43 goals and conceding 29.​

FC Barcelona will play the next match in La Liga against Osasuna on Wednesday 31st of January in Barcelona. The prediction is FC Barcelona winning the match.​