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7 Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has been adamant that he will not change his decision regarding stepping down in the summer, and beyond the financial implications of elimination from the Champions League, an immediate consequence of their Champions League elimination is the end of the campaign to get him to stay. While the hierarchy at Barcelona had been trying to persuade him to reverse his decision, their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain could see him out of the job even earlier than the end of the season.
As per Diario AS, defeat in El Clasico against Real Madrid could precipitate his departure even sooner, as Barcelona may decide to speed up their succession plan. Barca Atletic manager Rafael Marquez is the strong favourite to take over, as the Blaugrana do not have the finances to attract a more high-profile candidate.
Xavi is practically history now, and the door to the search of a new coach has been opened. And here, the best placed as of today is Rafa Márquez. @acaradeperro pic.twitter.com/tXcfolNYaS
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) April 17, 2024
Relevo agree that it is the end of the Xavi era in effect, pointing out that he had said if Barcelona didn’t win anything at the end of the season he would leave, with minimal chance of a comeback in the league. While there has been internal and external narrative that they will try to persuade Xavi to remain, they confirm that their Champions League elimination all but confirms his exit.
The Blaugrana coach signalled that he had had enough of the constant lack of respect in the media, and lack of appreciation he felt, alongside the crushing pressure of the job. Barcelona’s defeat to PSG is more disappointment than disaster, but it does rob Xavi of plenty more credit to work with had he won and wanted to stay, be it with fans, media or the hierarchy at Barcelona.
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