Xavi

Barcelona manager Xavi says he felt “liberated” following the announcement that he would step down from the role at the end of the season. The 44-year-old made the announcement on Saturday after his side lost 5-3 at home to Villarreal in La Liga. Xavi said he made the decision to leave “at the beginning of the season”. “Our job and what we have done is not well valued, and that’s why I decided that it [the season] was going to be my last one as coach,” he said. “They make you feel you are not worth it, every day. It…

Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele is on the verge of joining PSG, a decision that has left Barcelona coach Xavi visibly disappointed. The 26-year-old forward, who remained on the bench during Barcelona’s pre-season friendly victory over AC Milan, has signalled his desire to leave the club. Xavi, while addressing the situation after Tuesday’s game, conveyed his feelings, saying, “He says that he has this proposal and that he has decided to leave. It is his personal decision.” “I will be very clear,” Xavi said. “He has been very direct, that he has a proposal from Paris St-Germain, that they have called him…

Xavi was critical of his Barcelona side following a 3-3 draw with Inter, all but confirming their elimination from the Champions League. WHAT HAPPENED? Despite going 1-0 up on the night, Barcelona scored late on to snatch a draw at home to Inter, rendering two seasons without Champions League knockout football almost inevitable. Xavi was honest in his assessment after the game, frustrated by his side's performance. WHAT HE SAID: Speaking in his post-match press conference, he admitted: "If you don't beat Inter at home, you don't deserve to stay in this competition. "Last season we didn't have enough to compete, but…