Barcelona boss Xavi preventing to maintain dressing room – sources

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández is preventing to maintain the gamers onside with a piece of the first-team squad shedding religion in him, a number of sources have advised ESPN.

Barça have been crushed 4-1 by Actual Madrid within the Spanish Supercopa closing on Sunday, however sources say the disillusionment predates that humbling Clásico defeat in Saudi Arabia.

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A number of gamers have been questioning the workforce’s strategy for some time. They’re additionally irritated that Xavi mentioned they haven’t been in a position to adapt to Barça’s type of play.

One supply mentioned not all of the gamers share the identical opinion, however that some really feel he has not been as robust on sure members of the squad.

A supply near Xavi insists the coach’s feeling is that the gamers are nonetheless with him whereas acknowledging there’s all the time the chance somebody is sad inside a 20-player squad.

They recognise outcomes haven’t been as anticipated to this point this season, however say Xavi has been pleased with the behaviour and perspective proven by all the workforce. The three-2 win over Almeria earlier than Christmas was labelled by one supply as a “turning level” within the relationship between the gamers and the supervisor.

Xavi mentioned after that sport that he gave his harshest-ever workforce discuss at half-time as Barça laboured to a victory with an 83rd-minute winner from Sergi Roberto towards LaLiga’s backside membership, who stay winless this season.

Nevertheless, whereas that second has been singled out, doubts set in earlier than as Barça suffered defeats in LaLiga towards Madrid and Girona and within the Champions League towards Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.

Xavi has mentioned in a number of information conferences that he believes the connection along with his gamers stays constructive. Talking after the defeat to Madrid on Sunday, he mentioned he nonetheless believes in them and is satisfied they will flip the season round.

In the meantime, sporting director Deco mentioned it made “no sense” to query Xavi’s future, including that the coach, who lately signed a brand new deal till 2025, retained the membership’s help.

Nevertheless, sources consulted by ESPN haven’t been as forthright, conceding that there are doubts surrounding Xavi’s future past this season, regardless of that contract renewal.

That means confidence is waning, however Barça’s monetary truthful play scenario makes dismissing Xavi and appointing a substitute tough, whereas there are additionally a scarcity of apparent candidates to show to within the quick time period.

Sources added that ought to Xavi find yourself leaving earlier than the top of the season, Barça Atletic coach and former Mexico worldwide Rafa Marquez is president Joan Laporta’s most well-liked choice to exchange him on an interim foundation.

Sunday’s defeat to Madrid magnified Barça’s latest poor performances, which haven’t all the time been punished when it comes to outcomes however have been criticised by the native media.

They’ve fallen eight factors behind LaLiga leaders Girona, who’ve performed a sport extra, and are seven adrift of Madrid, who sit second.

Nevertheless, they continue to be alive within the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. They journey to third-tier Unionistas de Salamanca within the spherical of 16 of the Copa on Thursday and face Napoli on the identical stage in Europe subsequent month.

Xavi, who spent over 20 years as a participant at Barça, took over the Catalan membership in 2021 and led them to their first league title since 2019 final 12 months in what was his first full season in cost.