After ending his time as Barcelona coach with a 2-1 win towards Sevilla on Sunday, Xavi Hernández mentioned he believes his work has been undervalued and that his alternative could have a tough job on their palms.
Objectives from Robert Lewandowski and Fermín López sandwiched an effort from Youssef En-Nesyri as Barça completed the LaLiga marketing campaign with three factors simply two days after the membership introduced Xavi can be sacked on the finish of the season.
“I do not assume the work we’ve got achieved has been sufficiently valued contemplating the adversarial state of affairs we got here into,” Xavi advised DAZN after beating Sevilla.
“Barça had been ninth within the desk after we arrived on the finish of 2021. We completed second. Then, within the first full season [in charge], we received two trophies [LaLiga and the Spanish Supercopa].
“This yr has not been on the degree required, but it surely’s come all the way down to particulars in a number of key video games. It is a disgrace. I’m unhappy, however that is the job of a coach.”
ESPN has revealed that Hansi Flick will exchange Xavi, with the Germán coach’s appointment anticipated to be introduced within the coming days.
“They must know it’s a tough state of affairs, as a result of Barcelona is a tough membership, but additionally due to the adversarial monetary state of affairs, above all [LaLiga’s] monetary honest play guidelines,” Xavi mentioned when requested if he had any recommendation for his successor.
“It will not be simple in any respect. They may endure and they’re going to want persistence as a result of it is a actually tough job. The one factor that may save them is profitable, whether or not they have been a part of the membership or not [previously].
“I’ve been checked out by a magnifying glass and a sure degree of expectations had been generated, as a result of I used to be a part of Barça’s best-ever period, which has performed towards me.”
Xavi initially introduced in January that he would step down this summer time, however he reversed his determination in April earlier than being fired in a gathering with membership president Joan Laporta on Friday.
The supervisor insists he wished to stay within the job, regardless of his doubts in January, and refused to disclose the explanations given to him for his dismissal.
“It isn’t for me to clarify the motives, the president has to try this,” Xavi continued. “I simply have to simply accept and respect them. The choice is made and there’s no wanting again. The membership is above any particular person. I wished to remain on. I get [the decision], I respect it, however it’s a disgrace. The sentiments are contradictory as a result of the work has been optimistic regardless of not profitable trophies this season. I assumed we had been on an excellent path and I nonetheless assume that.
“However that is soccer, choices must be made. I’m pleased, proud and happy with what we’ve got achieved: 2.5 years and two trophies within the adversarial, tough state of affairs the membership is in, that is the fact.
“I’ve not been in a position to work with calm. We requested for stability one month in the past after we determined to remain. We thought by staying on we had achieved that and we had been hungry to work exhausting, however that is the lifetime of a supervisor.”
Xavi mentioned he’s “open” to something sooner or later concerning the following step in his profession, however that within the short-term he must “relaxation and be with my household.”
The previous midfielder, who made greater than 700 appearances for Barça as a participant, changed Ronald Koeman in 2021 and steered the crew from ninth to second in his first season in cost.
A primary LaLiga title since 2019 adopted final time period, however Barça have didn’t kick on this yr, ending the season trophy-less as they completed second within the league and exited the Champions League and the Copa del Rey on the quarterfinal stage.