Barca sacked Xavi, and Flick set to take over
Barcelona are set to install German manager Hansi Flick after the dismissal of Xavi Hernandez on Friday, the 24th of May. The announcement was made amidst a series of events which saw the club renege on their initial plan to keep the Catalan legend for next season. The club are looking to make a stronghold in the Champions League next season after going close in the 2022/23 campaign.
Xavi Hernandez who also made a U-turn on his wish to quit the Camp Nou, will be disappointed to leave the beloved club he played for almost all his career and coached after leaving a very lucrative job in the Middle East.
Having won the 2022/23 La Liga season, the legendary midfielder has great hopes of renewing his marriage with the club, with reports stating that his statement on the fragility of the club's finances angered the club's president, Joan Laporta and prompted him to reconsider the earlier decision.
On Friday afternoon, a club statement read: “Joan Laporta has informed Xavi Hernandez that he will not be continuing as first-team coach in the 2024-25 season.
“The meeting happened at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and was also attended by sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste, director of sport Anderson Luis de Souza, Deco, Xavi, Oscar Hernandez and Sergio Alegre.
“Barcelona wishes to thank Xavi for his work as a coach, as well as for his inimitable career as a player and as team captain and wishes him every future success in the world.
“Xavi Hernandez will be coaching the team for the last time in Sunday's game away to Sevilla.” Fans of Barcelona can purchase tickets for the game between Sevilla and Barcelona from an online ticket store.
The Spanish manager will be replaced by former Bayern Munich and Germany national team manager, Hansi Flick.
Why Xavi should be happy to leave
Sacking Xavi Hernandez was a decision the Barcelona Chiefs must have not taken lightly, seeing that he is one of their own and he hasn't fared badly at all. He won a La Liga and a Copa de Espana title in the three years he spent at the club. He also oversaw a rise in prominence in Europe and an influx of talent from the La Masia Academy that helped the demand for Barcelona tickets increase.
So it would seem an unwise and unthinkable decision for the Blaugrana chiefs to dismiss the legend of the club, but he really should not have retracted his decision to quit the club earlier on in the season.
The club's finances are actually in the mud, and Joan Laporta’s fury at Xavi for stating the obvious is quite nonsensical and disrespectful. The club is in great debt that has now run into billions of Euros (almost €3 billion). Even with the sale of many assets and properties in the club, this figure has barely seen a decline.
Moreover, these and more were the circumstances that Xavi Hernandez had to deal with at the club and was also depended on fringe signings and loan deals. He also had to rely on young legs at times, and while this decision was largely successful, it would always come with risks. So it makes sense that Xavi would be glad to see the end of a torturous time at Camp Nou where he was always under pressure from the fans, club management and even himself.
What Barca would be getting from Hansi Flick
What was the tipping point in the sacking of former Barcelona manager, Quique Setien was the 8-2 defeat to a Bayern Munich side led by Hansi Flick. The German had replaced Nico Kovac as manager and was tasked with getting the German machines drilling again, and so they did! Starting with the Blaugrana.
The speed in transition from defence to offence, the quality of passes and the influx of goals were proof enough that something was working behind the scenes, on and off the pitch. The players also loved his strategies and all was well during his time at the Allianz Arena.
However, a call from the German football federation was all it took to take the German away from the Bavarians, and that move was costly for his managerial reputation. He performed woefully and lost half of the games he managed which of course led to his dismissal.
He, however, has not become a bad coach overnight. The discipline many German managers are known for instilling in players will find expression. He also has an eye for spotting quality talents, as he has been an assistant manager for quite some time.
He will come with some relative experience that the Spanish club desperately needs at this time, where most of the star players are quite young, and need to be grabbed by the hands to grow. He also may not know one or two things on how to bring out the best from Robert Lewandowski who has since fallen off his high standards since joining the Catalan club.
Moreover, he will need the support of the club, in many ramifications. The financial aspect would have to be discussed in clear terms to avoid any form of media back and forth, and he also must be publicly backed.
Time will be needed
Also, time must be given to him as he is not a miracle worker. The club is almost in ruins, and it would take patience and careful planning to get the club back up. Young players like Lamine Yamal and Gavi are fast becoming very important to the team and even the Spanish national side. So you can rest assured that the more experienced touch of Hansi Flick will manage their growth.
The practice of signing players on free transfers can also be smart business but it should not be made a continuous practice, as you can only get so much from a free signing. The club should have a plan to sign marquee players and invest in more young players.
Conclusion
The sack of Xavi Hernandez should not be seen as a huge surprise, but it is a damning indictment of the imminent fall of a giant in the game. The club needs to avoid making the same mistakes it did that brought it to this state.
Cover Credits - ESPN
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