Barcelona’s Uncertain Future: Xavi’s Status Up in the Air

• Xavi uncertain at Barcelona after Super Cup loss to Real Madrid.
• Pressure grows with Barcelona in fourth place in La Liga.
• Xavi has 3-4 critical games to prove himself; board may reconsider.

In the wake of a resounding 4-1 defeat against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 14, FC Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi Hernandez, finds himself on shaky ground as uncertainties loom over his future with the club.

Spanish news outlet Cadena SER reported on Tuesday that despite the backing of key figures within the club, including Sporting Director Deco and President Joan Laporta, pressure is mounting on Xavi as Barcelona currently sits fourth in La Liga with 41 points, eight behind second-placed Real Madrid.

While the board has expressed its intention to keep Xavi at least until the end of the current season, there is a growing sense that a few more setbacks could prompt a reconsideration. Barca’s Head of Sport, Joan Vehlis, emphasized in an interview with Cadena SER after the Super Cup loss that Xavi has a narrow window of three to four games to secure his future at the club.

Barcelona’s next fixtures include a crucial round of 16 Copa del Rey match against Unionistas de Salamanca on January 18, followed by challenging La Liga encounters against Real Betis on January 21, Villarreal on January 27, Osasuna on January 31, and Alaves on February 3.

The pressure is particularly heightened as the club’s board has made it clear that if Barcelona fails to progress in either the Copa del Rey or the UEFA Champions League, Xavi’s tenure could come to an abrupt end. In such a scenario, the club is rumored to be considering appointing Rafael Marquez from Barca Atletic as an interim coach.

As Barcelona navigates a critical juncture in its season, Xavi faces a daunting task ahead, with the next few games serving as a make-or-break period that could determine his fate at the helm of the Catalan club.

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