Xavi says he retains trust of Laporta amid rumours he faces sack at Barça
Xavi Hernández affirms that his excitement and drive remain unchanged, despite rumors spreading that Barcelona has opted to terminate his position as coach. This news comes only 21 days after he announced his reversal decision to remain with the team.
The former head coach of the team from Catalonia left his position on January 27th, but then decided to return on April 24th. He claimed that he was not informed that he would not be continuing in his role for the upcoming season and the club had conveyed a sense of reassurance.
In April, Barcelona shared the news that Xavi would be staying on with the club. President Joan Laporta claimed that it only took "three minutes" for Xavi and him to come to an agreement, simply by looking into each other's eyes. However, there are reports from Catalan radio suggesting that Laporta has had a change of heart and will be firing Xavi at the conclusion of the season.
On Monday night, the team went to Almería without the sporting director, Deco, or the president. The president was upset about Xavi's comments during the pre-match press conference, where he mentioned the club's financial crisis hindering their ability to compete. Xavi had asked to meet with the president, but it did not occur. The president has not made any public statements, leaving the coach to address the situation.
Xavi spoke ahead of Sunday's match against Rayo Vallecano and dismissed the reports as unfounded rumors that he was unaware of. According to him, Laporta and Deco still have faith and trust in his abilities, and the club has assured him that everything is under control and there's no need to worry.
But essentially, he shifted the burden of any future changes onto the president, recognizing that the commotion is coming from within. He acknowledged that these types of situations frequently occur in the world of FC Barcelona. He expressed his eagerness and drive to tackle the current and upcoming seasons. Despite the uproar surrounding the situation, he emphasized the importance of remaining calm, as nothing will be altered.
He also mentioned that even after hearing many rumors and negative comments about him for the past 48 hours, he is not reconsidering his position as coach. He firmly believes that things will work out well for him as a coach and his enthusiasm has not waned. In fact, all the negative noise has made him even more determined to succeed. He clarified that these rumors were only spread by the media and no one has communicated any of it to him directly. He remains focused on the upcoming game against Rayo.
When asked if he believed that the president or individuals associated with him were advocating for a dismissal, Xavi stated, "I have no clue, and I'm honestly not concerned about it. What matters to me is that the president trusts me, and that trust is still intact right now. The president, sporting director, and vice-president are all conveying a sense of calm."