Barcelona are close to finalizing the long-anticipated return of Xavi Hernández as coach, according to various reports in the Catalan press on Thursday, with B team coach Sergi Barjuan given temporary charge after the sacking of Ronald Koeman. .
Barca president Joan Laporta was reportedly in talks with Xavi about the vacancy on Thursday morning.
Xavi is currently Al Saad’s coach, but he is not expected to have any problems keeping him away from the Qatari club, as the Spaniard looks forward to completing a sensational return.
The 41-year-old left Barcelona in 2015 after winning the treble, which has led his career to eight La Liga titles and four Champions League titles.
Following his influence on the prestigious Barca team managed by Pep Guardiola, he is widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest players and there is great enthusiasm about his potential as a coach.
Barcelona’s scheduled morning training session on Thursday was put back at 5pm (1500GMT) and will be taken over by Barjuan, who is likely to be in charge of Saturday’s game at home in the Alaves.
Barca have three games to negotiate against Alves and Celta Vigo in La Liga before the international break, as well as a crucial Champions League trip to Dynamo Kiev in between.
Barca had won only two of their last seven league games under Komen, a run that included losing to Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico at the Camp Nou.
A poor start to the season has raised the chances of the team failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which will have huge consequences for the club’s already dire financial situation.
– huge debts –
Koman spent six years as a player at Barcelona and is considered a club legend after scoring the winning goal against Sampdoria in the 1992 European Cup final.
He was appointed coach by previous Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu in August 2020 and has enjoyed some success in his first season, winning the Copa del Rey and bringing back a disillusioned Lionel Messi.
But a disappointing end in La Liga and a heavy loss in the last 16 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League cast doubts on Koman’s ability to navigate the biggest games, a criticism aimed at resurfacing after last weekend’s loss to Real Madrid. was from.
Laporta was re-elected as chairman in March and while he allowed Koeman to remain as coach, there was never more trust between the pair.
Laporta told Koeman in the summer that he wanted two weeks to find a replacement for the Dutchman, while Koeman had reacted badly to Laporta last month saying the coach didn’t have all the power.
“He talked too much,” Koman said.
No replacement could be found or persuaded to take it, perhaps partly because of Barcelona’s dire financial problems.
The club has a debt of 1.35 billion euros and had to see Messi join PSG in August after the Argentine failed to renew his contract.
Other key players, such as Antoine Griezmann, also went without adequately being replaced as Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay both arrived on free transfers and Luc de Jong came on loan from Sevilla.
“In recent years other clubs have strengthened every season and we haven’t,” Koman said after his last game in charge against Rayo.
– honest approach –
Younger players such as Pedri, Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, Sergio Dest and Ronald Araujo have benefited from Koman’s confidence, but more established players have suffered from a decline in form.
Koman’s honest approach was largely acknowledged and even appreciated in previous seasons, but his dismal assessment of his squad from the period was viewed by many as counter-productive. Looked and was not suitable for the coach of Barcelona.
Koeman’s playing style was criticized, which became increasingly apparent, while the board was reportedly irritated by his deviance from the club’s traditions of playing 4–3–3.
But the results were the key factor, as the league suffered defeats against Atlético and Real Madrid after consecutive 3–0 defeats by Bayern Munich and Benfica in the Champions League.
Laporta had said before the international break that Koeman “deserved the benefit of the doubt”, proceeding to end speculation that he would lose his job following Atletico’s defeat earlier this month.
But faced with the prospect of an early Champions League exit and failing to make the top four in La Liga, Laporta decided to act.
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