Under the stewardship of Joan Laporta, Barcelona decided to bid farewell to Xavi following growing uncertainties about the coach’s confidence in his team.
Expectations were for Xavi to depart at season’s end. Instead, he chose to stay, fulfilling his contract.
However, in a surprising twist, Laporta handed Xavi his walking papers, claiming the coach voiced doubts about his players’ abilities.
“If Xavi can reconsider, so can we,” declared Laporta during an interview on Barca One.
“Keeping Xavi seemed forced. His legendary status and zeal influenced our initial decision to confirm him,” Laporta reflected.
“When he flipped his stance, I probed, ‘Do you still believe in this team?’ He affirmed he did.”
“But then his tone shifted following talks with Deco about the squad’s needs,” Laporta added.
“This shift prompted me to re-evaluate our circumstances. I realized we needed fresh vigor to elevate our competitiveness,” he explained.
“Deciding against club legends wrenches my heart, but logic prevails,” Laporta confessed.
“I’ve faced this with Koeman, Messi, Pique, Busquets, Alba, and now Xavi. Barca’s welfare is always paramount,” he emphasized.
In stark contrast, Laporta praised Hansi Flick, the new coach with credentials from Bayern Munich and the German national team, for his confidence in the squad’s potential sans major reinforcements.
“Flick is convinced he can compete with the current roster,” said Laporta. “That was key.”
“Flick is here to claim victories. Every player, including Lewandowski, the youth, and the reserves, must be in prime physical shape,” he stressed.
“Physical readiness is crucial. If we are in top form and possess the ball, we can conquer all. This season, post the 60th minute, our vigor waned,” he admitted.
“I’m not saying the preparation was poor, yet there’s always room for improvement. We yearn for more.”
Although squad enhancements were a hot topic precipitating Xavi’s departure, Laporta is keen on extending the loans of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix.
“We wish the two Joaos to stay on another year. Deco is managing this,” he stated. “Flick has long been an admirer of Felix, entertaining thoughts of signing him during his Bayern tenure.”
“While we’re not planning significant sales or acquisitions, perhaps a midfielder or a winger,” Laporta mused. “Still, our academy remains a fertile ground for upcoming talent.”
“We believe our current ensemble, enriched by our academy, can vie for top honors in both domestic and European arenas,” he concluded with optimism.
