FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández (44-Spain) is set to part ways with the club this summer.
After a 3-5 defeat to Villarreal in the 22nd round of the Spanish La Liga in January, which left the club 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid, Hernandez made a surprise announcement, saying, “As a Barcelona fan before I was a coach, I can’t accept the situation. I will step down as coach at the end of this season,” he announced in a surprise announcement.
Xavi, a midfielder of a bygone era who led Barcelona to their glory days, has been in charge of his hometown club since 2021 and led them to the La Liga title last season, but has been heavily criticized this season as they slipped to fourth in La Liga in the early and mid-season, losing ground to rivals Real Madrid.
However, the mood is different these days. Xavi’s Barcelona are unbeaten in nine games in La Liga (7 wins, 2 draws) and sit in second place, eight points behind Real Madrid (75 points). Their performance in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) is even more impressive.
Barcelona defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-2 away in the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals on Nov. 11 (ET). Xavi’s exquisite mercenary skills were on display. After taking the lead in the 37th minute through a goal from Xavi, Barcelona conceded back-to-back goals from Ousmane Dembele in the third minute and Vitinha in the sixth.
Xavi brought on Pedri in the 16th minute of the second half to change the mood, and a minute later, a sensational roving pass from Pedri was converted by Zafinha with a left-footed unstoppable shot to equalize. In the 32nd minute, Xavi put the game out of reach with a header off a corner kick from Andreas Christensen, who had been introduced two minutes earlier.
Xavi also made a bold decision to start a youth duo of 17-year-old striker Ramin Yamal and defender Pau Kubarsi, both of whom impressed, furthering his generational 토토사이트 shift. Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly trying to change Xavi’s mind after he recently announced his intention to resign.
Lee Kang-In, 23, started and played 61 minutes in PSG’s midfield on the day, but was unable to create any offense. Lee, who was involved in the goal six minutes into the second half when his own ball found Fabian Luis for Vitinha’s goal, was substituted in the 16th minute and PSG equalized a minute later.
In the other quarterfinal first leg, Atletico Madrid defeated Dortmund 2-1 after goals from Rodrigo DePaul and Samuel Lienu made up for a Sébastien Alli own goal.