What was announced in January will be made official in the coming days, maybe even hours. Although it seemed that there would be a turnaround and Joan Laporta convinced the former captain to stay on the bench, nothing came of it. Xavi’s statement about the club’s poor financial situation hit the president’s ego, so as things stand, the team will be led by Hans Dieter Flick next season. The German is already ‘in front of Camp Nou gate with a whistle in his hand’, just waiting for Barca’s management to have a final meeting with Xavi and officially thank him for the past two and a half years of cooperation.Xavi ends his Barca tenure with a win in SevilleAfter the last game of the season, a win over Sevilla away (2-1), Xavi reflected on the farewell and admitted that it was hard for him, although earlier this year he himself insisted on it.”I tried to control my emotions, it’s hard when you know you’re not going to continue, but I think we played a good game. We won 85 points, which is what we planned (last season the La Liga title was won with 88). I hoped we would continue, but we from the coaching staff were not the ones who decided. It was a difficult season, we enjoyed it, but we also suffered. It was very exciting,” Xavi told DAZN.He was also asked if he and his closest associates are voluntarily leaving the club, as he announced in January when he said he would resign.”No, because we wanted to continue, but the club made a decision and we respect it. We did well despite not defending the title and I think we were generally on the right track. I’m proud of two trophies in two and a half years in moments big problems for the club. The players were great and their reaction at the end gave me goosebumps.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8123986##Xavi was referring primarily to the emotional move by Fermin Lopez who ran to hug him after scoring a goal.”Fermin is a special because he was not in Barcelona’s greater plan. We saved him from loans because we saw in training that he has confidence and can contribute to the team. He has great quality and if they believe in him, the club will get an excellent player for a long period. Barcelona has a very good generation of young footballers, they have improved and my best legacy is their respect. I am glad that we helped them to be better footballers”.The former captain of the Catalans did not want to talk about the specific reasons for the termination of cooperation. He addressed that question to president Laporta.”The reasons for that decision are not mine. The president is the one who has to say them, but it doesn’t matter if he wants to do it or not because Barca is above everyone.”Xavi was visibly disappointed about leaving.”Honestly, I have the feeling that everything I did these two and a half years caused an earthquake. I was constantly under scrutiny, and being a member of Barcelona’s best generation made things even more difficult, there were high expectations because of that. I had no peace, but I have to accept it. I think that my work in difficult times was not appreciated enough. When me and my team came, we were ninth and we almost won the championship. A year later we won La Liga and the Super Cup and this year there was no trophy. The title eluded us because of four or five games, but I think that in general the coaching staff and I, together with the players, did a good job and helped them to be better,” Xavi said with a touch of self-criticism because he admitted that he and his colleagues made mistakes while leading the Barcelona team, especially this season.🗣️ “He will suffer”Barcelona coach Xavi had some interesting words for his expected successor Hansi Flick ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xG78Lt6WxB— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 27, 2024 Finally, a message to the successor in the role of coach of Barcelona.”I would tell him that he has a difficult job ahead of him. Barcelona is a difficult club, especially because the economic situation is bad. The new coach will have to be ready to make sacrifices, but patience with him will also be necessary. The only thing that can help him is victories.”
