January proved to be a brutal month for Barcelona, marked by significant setbacks. Their 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana and elimination from the Copa del Rey by a dominant Athletic Club in extra time were severe blows. The 5-3 loss to Villarreal served as the tipping point, prompting Xavi to announce his impending departure from the club. However, Laporta hinted that if Xavi weren’t a revered club legend, he might have already faced dismissal.
When questioned about the possibility of Xavi being sacked before June, Laporta stated, “If it’s down to me, I won’t fire Xavi. He does not deserve that. He truly believes in the formula we have set up until the end of the season.” Laporta expressed confidence in Barcelona’s competitiveness in La Liga and the Champions League, emphasizing their readiness to face Napoli. He underscored the commitment of both the management and players, highlighting that in a different scenario, he might have already terminated the manager’s contract.
Laporta disclosed that the club has initiated a search for Xavi’s successor, delegating the responsibility to Deco. Despite this, Laporta affirmed his trust in Xavi for the remainder of the season.
Xavi boasts an illustrious history with the club, having made 767 appearances, second only to Lionel Messi. His playing career saw him secure 15 major trophies with Barcelona. Taking on the role of head coach in November 2021, Xavi led Barcelona to clinch the La Liga title in his inaugural full season.
While Barcelona successfully advanced to the Champions League knockout stages this season, they face a formidable challenge against Napoli in the round of 16, following previous disappointments. Laporta reportedly approached Frank Rijkaard as a potential replacement for Xavi. Rijkaard had a highly successful first stint at Camp Nou in the 2000s, securing two La Liga titles and a historic Champions League victory in Paris in 2006. Other candidates linked to Barcelona include Hansi Flick, Roberto De Zerbi, and Thiago Motta.
FC Barcelona performance and stats
FC Barcelona is currently 4th in the La Liga with 47 points.
In the last 22 games, it has won 14 times, drawn 5 times, and lost 3 times. In its last match, FC Barcelona won 1-0 against Osasuna.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 44 goals and conceding 29.
FC Barcelona will play the next match in La Liga against Deportivo Alavés on Saturday 3rd of February in Gasteiz. The prediction is FC Barcelona winning the match.