When Xavi Hernandez signed off his glittering playing career at Barcelona with his second European treble in 2015, he had a message for the seemingly emotional fans at the Camp Nou: “I hope this isn’t a goodbye but a see you soon.” True to his word, the iconic midfielder made a triumphant return in November 2021 to aid his struggling club, following the lacklustre tenure of former captain Ronald Koeman.
Xavi, embodying the perfect candidate to rejuvenate the club with the La Masia spirit, introduced an approach that promised a positive shift in Barcelona’s trajectory amid financial challenges in La Liga. Taking charge as La Blaugrana’s manager, the 44-year-old tactician secured the 2022/23 La Liga crown in his debut full season, alongside clinching the Spanish Super Cup.
However, despite this initial success, the golden touch did not extend to long-term glory.
Barcelona struggled to replicate their early form, which was built on astute defending, with the Catalonians only conceding 20 goals on their path to La Liga triumph last season.
The 2023/24 season witnessed a series of high-scoring defeats, including a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Super Cup and a crushing 4-2 defeat to Catalan neighbours, and surprise title-contenders Girona. The blows continued with a 4-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final loss to Athletic Club, and the final blow came in a devastating 5-3 league defeat to struggling Villarreal in round 22 of the La Liga season.
The aftermath of these defeats sent shockwaves through Spanish football, culminating in Xavi’s surprising announcement that he would step down as Barcelona manager at the season’s end. This unexpected decision has continued to spark widespread reactions and in light of these developments, we explore three factors that may have contributed to the former midfielder’s sudden downturn in fortunes at the helm of La Liga’s prestigious club.
Restructured Hierarchy
Leading up to the Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium, the crucial match that secured the Spanish league title for Barcelona in May 2023, Xavi took a moment to acknowledge the unsung heroes behind the scenes, specifically highlighting the contributions of the club’s director of football, Mateu Alemany, and sporting director, Jordi Cruyff.
However, by September, both Alemany and Cruyff had departed Barcelona under undisclosed circumstances. In their absence, former midfielder Anderson Luís de Souza, popularly known as ‘Deco’, had taken complete charge of the club’s transfers. However, Deco’s reign has been faced with persistent allegations of a strained relationship with Xavi, with reports suggesting clashes over summer signings, including the unsuccessful pursuit of highly-rated midfielder, Martin Zubimendi.
Reports have also circulated about Xavi’s conflicts with club president Joan Laporta. Although Laporta appointed Xavi as manager in November 2021, there seems to be lingering tension, especially considering that Xavi publicly supported rival Victor Font in the presidential elections, a race ultimately won by Laporta. Without Alemany and Cruyff, Xavi lacked the same supportive network he relied on in his early days at Barcelona, a factor which appears to also impact his seemingly unsuccessful spell at the club.
Tactical Regression
Before Xavi declared his resignation, Frenkie de Jong staunchly supported his manager in the post-match interview following the loss to Villareal. “There is complete faith in the coach; the coaching staff is doing great work,” the Dutchman stressed. “We, the players, are at fault; we possess the talent. If people fail to see that, then it is our responsibility.”
It is a common fate for managers to be overlooked in victory and scapegoated in defeat. However, the significant decline in form among a majority of Barcelona players this season strongly suggests a misstep in the individual making crucial personnel and tactical decisions.
Xavi’s system at Barcelona has not evolved; instead, it devolved into a shapeless confusion.
Ilias Akhomach, who started in Xavi’s debut game for Barcelona in 2021, put Villarreal 2-0 ahead on Saturday night in what was a ‘nail in the coffin’ fixture for Xavi’s tenure as boss. The nimble winger had been brought in as a result of Xavi’s emphasis on width above all else. However, during Barcelona’s title-winning campaign last season, Xavi settled on a box midfield with only one wide player, seeking central numerical superiority.
The departure of Sergio Busquets (to join Messi at Inter Miami) – and Oriol Romeu’s unsuccessful attempt to replace him – along with key injuries to Barcelona’s remaining midfielders, has often deprived Xavi of this tactical option.
The series of experiments and corrections constantly being made on the Barcelona playbook subsequently eradicated any sense of rhythm for the Catalans. Xavi’s win percentage (61.5%) ranked 6th and his average goal per game (1.9) ranked last amongst the seven Barcelona managers post-Guardiola era.
The Spanish press
Only a handful of current managers passionately preach the principles of the Cruyffian philosophy as Xavi does. The former Barcelona captain not only adopts Johan Cruyff’s tactical approach to football but also seems to share the Dutchman’s disdain for the Spanish press.
Cruyff referred to the constant scrutiny around Barcelona as the club’s ‘entorno’. On numerous occasions, Xavi has emphasized that this relentless environment makes Barcelona “the most challenging club to manage in the world.” Ultimately, the pressure became overwhelming.
“It’s a demanding job,” Xavi admitted to clarify his departure. “It wears you down. In Barcelona, you always feel undervalued, and mistreated… that’s how the club operates. From a mental health perspective, it’s tough too. I’m a positive guy, but the battery levels keep running out… and at some point, you realize there’s no point in staying.”
However, the iconic midfielder concluded by hinting at a possible return for another managerial stint at his beloved club sometime in the future. Given his unwavering love for the club (despite the unsavoury separation), the reality of a return is plausible.
