FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez continuing in his role depends on two important factors according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources.
Xavi announced that he will step down from the hotseat on June 30 as January drew to a close.
The Catalans had just suffered a devastating 5-3 loss to Villarreal at their Montjuic Stadium, which many felt had killed off hopes of retaining a La Liga title won for the first time in four years last term.
As they trail bitter rivals Real Madrid by eight points some nine days out from El Clasico at the Bernabeu, that still might be the case.
On the continent, however, Barca is “halfway” through to the Champions League semi-finals after beating PSG 3-2 in a quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday – even though Xavi still sees Luis Enrique’s Parisians as the favourites to clinch the tie – and has vastly improved on the whole.
President Joan Laporta has already revealed to the same outlet that he has tried to convince Xavi to stay on.
“I told him: we respect the fact that you’re here until the end of the season. It’s your decision,” Laporta explained.
“We’re doing well, we’re getting better and better. Look, since he’s said it, he’s won again and we’re winking at each other as if to say something can happen here. It’s going like this, it’s going better [than before] and the objectives are achieved”.
“Xavi already knows that I would like him to continue, but I already told him at the time, when he said about the pressure, that here we are always under pressure with the experience that you have.”
Whenever asked in pre or post-match press conferences, Xavi too has reiterated that his original decision stands, but a lot can change in a week, or even a day, at a club like Barca.
Results are going in the right direction, and MD has spoken to people close to the coach which say they “matter for his continuity”.
What is also of paramount importance is giving Xavi money to make reinforcements, while those that he considers essential are also not sold by a cash-strapped club.
Xavi wants at least two midfielders, and was frustrated that they didn’t arrive last summer when Barca waved goodbye to former captain and pivot Sergio Busquets.
If Barca continues to progress in the Champions League and can back Xavi financially, he may end up staying on at the club of his life after all.