Barcelona president explains why he sacked Xavi after Persuading him to stay.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has addressed the club’s recent managerial changes, explaining the decision to replace Xavi Hernandez with Hansi Flick.
Initially, Xavi seemed poised to remain for the 2024-25 season, but a sudden reversal led to his departure.
In an interview, Laporta praised Xavi’s contributions, noting his success during challenging times, including winning the League and Super Cup last year. However, this season’s struggles led Xavi to consider stepping down.
Laporta respected this decision, acknowledging the immense pressure Xavi faced and his deep connection to the club.
Complicating matters, Xavi altered his stance in a press conference and changed his demands in discussions with the sports director. These inconsistencies prompted Laporta to seek new leadership to maximize the team’s performance.
“Xavi has done a good job. He took over the team at a time of maximum difficulty. Last year he won the League and the Super Cup. This season things have not gone well, to the point that Xavi said he would not continue. I accepted because Xavi is a culé at heart and it was better not to change coaches in the middle of the season. He didn’t seem able to continue withstanding the pressure.
“Then there is a press conference in which he changes his speech and a meeting with the sports director in which he changes his requests. That makes me think that a new push must be given to get the ball rolling and maximum performance to this squad.
“We got the option of Flick, who seems capable of competing with anyone. That was decisive. I think we have finished in a very elegant way with Xavi. He has kept his word, and so have we. We have reached an agreement. He has the doors open to return because he is a culer.“
The opportunity to appoint Flick, known for his competitive edge, was decisive.
Laporta emphasized that Xavi’s departure was handled gracefully, with mutual respect and an open door for his potential return.
Under Flick, formerly of Bayern and the German national team, Barcelona aims to rejuvenate its competitive edge with a fresh two-year managerial approach.
