Xavi needed tonight (Saturday) just four hours after landing at the airport as Barcelona's new coach to realize he would need a miracle to rehabilitate a team that tonight in Vigo, after leading 3-0 in the first half, allowed Salta to equalize in the 96th minute.
"There is no character in the team," Frankie de Jong said after a draw that was all a loss in Sergei Barjuan's last game as interim coach.
Barça's problem is not only its relegation from fourth place, which gives a ticket to the champions, but also that Anso Patti and Nico were injured and the list of injured has already reached 11 missing.
Xavi will be the lead actor of the film called "Almost Impossible Mission".
Yago Aspas celebrates in the 96th minute,
The game at Blaydos started excellently when Anso Patti, Busquets and Memphis scored in the first half.
But then came the Barça of the year.
That means an injury to Patti, the great hope of the team, and of the incredible Nico, and of course the goals of Salta who took advantage of Barça's defensive weakness.
Yago Espas scored at the last second of the day which started off excellent for the Catalans after the official announcement that the best midfielder in their history would be the coach with a contract for the next two and a half years.
Everyone knew that one day Xavi would be appointed Barça's coach.
What no one expected, not even himself, was to do so only six years after leaving as one of the symbols of one of the greatest teams ever.
Xavi arrives in the middle of the season with experience as a coach that boils down to the humble Qatari al-Sad and as a solution of despair to save a ship that sails fast in front of a glacier.
Only Leo Messi has prevented the collision and drowning until this summer.
Vigo celebrates, Photo: Reuters
"I'm going home, to the place that saw me grow up. I'm going back to the club of my life. There are no words in my mouth to describe this feeling of defending again this symbol that is etched on my heart," Xavi said, "I know I am coming through a difficult time but I I'm going to deal with it with great enthusiasm. "
The glitch in Vigo did not diminish the enthusiasm of the fans and most of the commentators who asked for Xavi instead of Koeman.
Al-Sad agreed to give up Xavi for 5 million euros that the Catalans and Xavi would pay together.
The Qatari sheikhs sought the presence of Barça president Jean LaPorte in Doha because they felt they were not respected enough.
Forte, who had previously spoken out against Barça's sponsorship deal with Qatar, sent the club's two top men to negotiate.
Barcelona celebrates.
too early,
Xavi, who is well acquainted with Barça's locker room, where some people have played with him for many years, will now have to, after the disappointing draw at Vigo, revive a team with a lot of injuries and a lot of professional and mental problems.
