Xavi is convinced Barcelona바카라™s season would have been a 바카라śdisaster바카라ť had he not announced his decision to leave at the end of it. (More Football News)
Xavi Hernandez revealed after a 5-3 home defeat by Villarreal in January that he would leave Barcelona after two and a half years in charge following a difficult spell
Xavi is convinced Barcelona바카라™s season would have been a 바카라śdisaster바카라ť had he not announced his decision to leave at the end of it. (More Football News)
The 44-year-old revealed after a 5-3 home defeat by Villarreal in January that he would walk away from the club after two and a half years in charge following a difficult spell.
He said at the time his decision would free up his players, and they will head into Saturday바카라™s LaLiga clash with lowly Cadiz on a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions 바카라“ the last of them an impressive 3-2 Champions League quarter-final, first-leg victory at Paris St Germain.
Xavi told a press conference: 바카라śWith the decision made, I was sure we would be like this. If not, it would have been a disaster, and I told the president so.
바카라śI looked and looked around the club. If I hadn바카라™t decided, we wouldn바카라™t be competing by now.바카라ť
Asked if he might reconsider his decision in the circumstances, Xavi said: 바카라śI바카라™ve told you that at every press conference. Nothing has changed.바카라ť
Barca head into the game still revelling in the glow of their midweek fightback in Paris, which saw them recover from a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 at the Parc des Princes and secure a priceless lead to take back to Catalonia.
They have won their last five in all competitions, although their hopes of closing an eight-point gap to leaders Real Madrid 바카라“ their opponents at the Bernabeu Stadium next Sunday 바카라“ appear to be receding by the week.
Xavi said: 바카라śNext week there is a Clasico that, if we win tomorrow, could leave us five points behind. If we lose tomorrow, the league is over.바카라ť
Indeed, Barca바카라™s focus could lie as much over their shoulder, with third-placed Girona only two points worse off and due to host them in a potentially pivotal clash on May 4.
In the circumstances, they can afford no slip-ups this weekend against a side fighting for their lives inside the relegation zone and three points adrift of safety.
Cadiz have rallied in recent weeks, collecting eight of their 25 points to date from the last five games 바카라“ including a famous 2-0 home win over top-four side Atletico Madrid on March 9 바카라“ and they boast a 2-1 home victory and a 1-0 success at the Nou Camp, as well as two draws, in seven meetings with the Spanish aristocrats since returning to LaLiga in 2020.
Xavi said: 바카라śThey have only lost one game in the last five, they have beaten Atletico at home바카라¦ a lot is at stake. Life is going for them football-wise in every way, they are playing for the season.바카라ť