FC Barcelona Copa Del Rey Knockout Could Cost Catalans Millions, And Xavi His Job

Barcelona's loss in the Copa del Rey at San Mames stadium may result in significant financial losses for the team.

The defeat of FC Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey against Athletic Club in Bilbao on Wednesday night might result in a significant financial loss for the Catalans next season. Furthermore, it could also lead to the dismissal of head coach Xavi Hernandez.

The team in blue and red conceded a goal just 60 seconds into the game, which was a terrible start for them at San Mames. Gorka Guruzeta scored from a short distance.

Once Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored goals within six minutes of each other, it seemed like Barcelona could win on a challenging field in Spain where it's hard to achieve a victory.

After the break, a momentary loss of focus quickly shattered any aspirations of winning when Oihan Sancet scored the equalizer during extra time.

Barca's exhausted and inexperienced players were unable to withstand the attacks from the Williams siblings Inaki and Nico, resulting in their team being eliminated from the competition. The Basques, who have already won an impressive 23 times, advanced to the semi-finals for the fifth consecutive year.

After the game, Xavi Hernandez once again suggested that he might quit his position, although he altered his remarks a bit.

Last week, he stated that he would leave the club if they did not achieve their goal of winning significant trophies. However, he now declared that if his team fails to remain competitive, he will step down from his position.

During an interview last month, President Joan Laporta hinted that Xavi may be let go if Barcelona is unable to win any championships. This possibility is becoming more and more realistic with the team's loss to Real Madrid in the Super Cup Final in January, their elimination from the Copa, their eight-point gap behind the leaders Girona in La Liga, and the challenges they may face in the Champions League.

This unexpected situation may result in Barcelona, who are struggling with debt, losing millions of dollars or euros. In addition to missing out on the prize money for winning the Copa del Rey, which was €1.2 million in 2023 according to the publication AS, there are other potential financial consequences.

The Catalans would greatly benefit from taking part in the upcoming Spanish Super Cup, as it generated around $6.6 million (€6 million) for teams this season according to reports from MARCA and other Spanish media sources.

The top four profitable spots are secured by the champions and the second-best teams in both La Liga and the Copa del Rey tournaments.

Although it is clear that Barcelona won't be one of the final two teams remaining in the competition, they are currently in a disadvantageous position in regards to the Spanish championship. They trail seven points behind second-ranked Real Madrid and are eight points behind the unexpected leaders Girona.

Barcelona can only anticipate a mistake by either of those two teams, which would assist them in securing their spots in Saudi Arabia around the start of 2025.