These are the most difficult circumstances for the work of a coach: mammoth pressure, too high expectations and modest opportunities in the real world. Barcelona is one of the biggest clubs on the planet, but in recent years it has been so bad that many people have already forgotten that until ten years ago they were barely at least in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Xavi suffered as long as he could, he brought Barça one title, but then he realized that the stress was breaking him and that if he stayed, he would not only suffer professionally, but also on a personal level.He therefore decided to leave and announced that he would lead the team only until June. And when the Spanish media in 24 hours twisted all the reasons why he left, all the sins that condemned him, they turned to the most important question: who will replace Xavi? Because let’s remember, before him there were Sergio Barjuan, Ronald Koeman and Quique Setien and in almost two seasons they took one Copa del Rey together. Before them, the solid Ernesto Valverde, then the already quite good Luis Enrique with the Ol’ Big Ears… But that’s not Barcelona. This one is now in debt due to Josep Maria Bartomeu’s bad business policies.Now, it is up to Joan Laporta, in cooperation with Deco. And a few names immediately stand out. So let’s go in order. Noting that the Catalan Mundo Deportivo claims that fans’ dreams of Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique are simply not realistic, as they have firm contracts with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain until 2025.Barcelona is just too hard and heavy: Xavi gives up!So who?Sergio Conceição (Porto): He has a contract until 2024. He doesn’t have the “Barca DNA” that is often spoken about at the Camp Nou stadium, but he has shown that he has what it takes to be a coach with Porto since 2017. He shared Porto’s dressing room with Deco for six months during his playing career and is currently considered perhaps the most serious candidate.Thiago Motta (Bologna): A friend and another former team-mate of Deco’s, only from Barcelona. He has talent, but not experience at the top level, as he has managed Genoa, Spezia and Bologna so far. Only in this last round did he hint at great possibilities, Bologna are fighting for Europe in Serie A, no one expected that.Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): Barca’s great desire, because he grew up in La Masia, he proved himself in Arsenal, although for now he only has the FA Cup among the more important trophies. However, there is a big question mark here, as Arteta’s name should go with Guardiola’s and Enrique’s given that his contract with Arsenal expires in 2025. But Catalan Sport muddied the water with an article about Arteta’s strong desire to come to Camp Nou. The island’s media have already denied him and claim that he will stay at the Emirates until 2025. We will see who is right.##NAJAVA_MECA_7828935##Hansi Flick (no engagement): The former Bayern Munich and Germany coach is to the taste of supremo Joan Laporta. He mentioned him during the presidential campaign in 2021 when Ronald Koeman was the coach. He is currently ‘unemployed’, he won the triple crown with Bayern in cooperation with Robert Lewandowski, and he has already said that he is also interested in a job abroad, noting: “Spain has an exceptional league.”Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool): Only because he is also mentioned. So let’s make a note. But Jurgen Klopp will not come. He has already announced that when he leaves Liverpool’s bench at the end of the season, he will rest for at least a year. He is a dream solution and surely many will question his determination to take a break from work, but it is hard to imagine that he would go to Barcelona after all. And this is how he said that he was tired of the pressure, and there is none greater than the one in Barca.Imanol Alguacil (Real Sociedad): It would not be the first time that Barcelona, when there is already no ideal solution abroad, turns to a less sonorous name from Spain. Imanol Alguacil might have the best chance there, he has been doing an excellent job for years at Real Sociedad, with whom he has a contract until 2025, but Barca could pay for that. Laporta has already praised him, the Catalans especially appreciate the fact that Alguacil knows how to work with young people, and Barca still have talents to sell and debts to pay back.##EDITORS_CHOICE##So those are the first options in the Catalan media. Interestingly, no one is talking about Giovanni van Bronkhorst, the third former teammate of Deco, who was the Dutch champion with Feyenoord and played in the Europa League final with Rangers. He has been out of work for a year, so again he does not figure as one of the main contenders for Xavi’s position. Who knows, maybe Barca are hiding their intentions towards him so as not to raise his price?Be that as it may, the coach alone will hardly be able to change everything by himself. And the players themselves began to accept that Xavi had been an umbrella protecting them from all criticism until now. And it wasn’t all about him. In the end, Xavi leaves in a gentlemanly manner. He recently extended his contract with the club until June 2025 with an option to continue until 2026 if he takes the title in one of these two seasons. He could have endured and taken at least 8,000,000 euros, plus another 4,000,000 to provide for his coaching staff. In the end, he ‘forgave’ them all, the whole 12,000,000.🗣️ – Ernesto Valverde on Xavi deciding to leave: “Everyone has to make their own decisions. I know what it’s like to be a Barcelona coach and how things work there. We must not forget that Xavi is the champion of this league and as a player at Barça he won everything. He has made… pic.twitter.com/Bs2kYaURBW— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) January 28, 2024 And yet, the complete impression will depend on the finish of the season. On Wednesday, Barca must beat Osasuna and distance themselves from Athletic Bilbao to a big five-point lead. The Champions League will continue soon. It will only be more difficult for Barca if Xavi does not strengthen the team.
