After crashing out of the Copa del Rey to a 4-2 loss against Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona head coach Xavi has opened up on the possibility of leaving the club at the end of the season. His side were knocked out by goals from brothers Nico and Inaki Williams in extra time.
For the latter in particular, it was an enormous feat as he travelled back from AFCON following Ghana’s elimination to play. Inaki Williams flew back from Ivory Coast and landed in Spain that very morning. However, he was still able to score a vital goal for his team to help them advance to the semifinals of the Cup competition.
Barcelona stunned by Athletic Bilbao in Copa del Rey quarter finals
“If we not competing at the end of the season, then I will have to leave,” Barcelona manager Xavi told reporters after the game.
“But that does not just go for me, it goes for all coaches. This is a big club. This is Barça. I know where I am and the demands that exist. We have to win trophies — or at least compete for them.”
“We are going to try and turn things around in LaLiga and go far in the Champions League. But I know how this works, when you lose, the coach is singled out.”
His side were handed a thumping 4-1 defeat at the Supercopa de Espana against arch rivals Real Madrid. And now, their hopes of winning the Copa del Rey have evaporated too. Barcelona are currently third in LaLiga, eight points behind league leaders Girona, albeit with a game in hand.
And while they do have an outside chance of winning the league title, things will have to change a lot for them to be realistic challengers this year. On the other hand, they have a huge Champions League Round of 16 tie against Napoli to play. If both competitions end in defeats for Xavi, then we could be seeing the last of him as the manager of Barcelona in the summer.
