Tiktekno: clip summarizing today's events in sport, 12.2/sport1
Xavi is supposed to leave Barcelona at the end of the season, but it is not impossible that the champion will choose to make a shock even earlier.
In Spain it is reported today (Monday) that the management has given the coach an ultimatum: a loss to Napoli in the first of two matches in the round of 16 of the Champions League, nine days from now, will most likely result in his immediate dismissal.
"This week's defeat exposed all the team's problems," wrote AS after the 3:3 home draw against Granada.
"Therefore, no one can guarantee right now that Xavi will stay until the end of the season. All eyes are on the Champions League."
If Xavi loses and is fired, the one who will step into his shoes is Rafa Marquez, the coach of Barcelona B, who was mentioned as a candidate to succeed the current head coach in the summer.
"Juan Laporte, who continues to protect Xavi, is beginning to despair of the situation," wrote "AS".
"His advisors and the people he trusts are pressuring him to make a decision. Deco also seems to have changed his mind about Xavi, mainly based on what he recently said to the Portuguese media. Xavi is the first to know - if he doesn't make it to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, he won't continue."
The Spanish media added and analyzed: "Xavi himself has always made it clear that he does not want to cause problems for the club. If he realizes that the best solution is to leave, he will do so without a problem - but at the moment he is not there. He still believes that he can turn the situation around." .
The hourglass is running out.
Xavi/GettyImages, David Ramos/Getty images
Following the draw last night, Barca remained 11 points away from Real Madrid at the top, and after already being eliminated from the cup at an early stage, they only had to fantasize about an achievement in the Champions League which seems far and very pretentious considering the level the team is showing this season.
After the game, the spirits in Barca were stormy.
President Juan Laporte and sporting director Deco remained cooped up in their room at the stadium long after the final whistle, and were seen leaving just after midnight, at the end of an emergency meeting.
More on the same topic:
Barcelona in football
Xavi