‘Signing Xavi Is The Best Decision I’ve Ever Made’ And FC Barcelona ‘Are Going To Win’ La Liga

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that signing club legend Xavi Hernandez is the best decision he has made during his second mandate and that the Catalans are going to win La Liga.

Laporta became the club’s leader after winning a presidential election just over a year ago, with Xavi later appointed to replace Ronald Koeman in November.

The then-fading La Liga giants were wallowing as low as ninth in the table when the 42-year-old took over the reins, but on his watch, Barcac are now on the cusp of second place if they beat Sevilla at Camp Nou tomorrow after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 away in El Clasico. On a continental front, they are also through to the Europa League quarter-finals.

In an interview with TVE, where he also insisted that the European Super League isn’t dead, Laporta said that signing Xavi as his coach “is the best decision I have made since I became president” after also insisting that he can “proudly say that we have already done the first thing [right] and we must now maintain this state of mind”.

“It is evident that I had to have taken it before,” Laporta confessed, with many criticizing him for hanging on to Koeman too long. “But everything is more complex than people think”.

“We have recovered our identity thanks to him,” Laporta concluded on the current manager.

Presently nine points behind Madrid, some insist that Xavi would have Barca closer to their arch rivals in the title race if he had been installed sooner. According to Laporta, though, the Blaugrana can still challenge for Spain’s domestic crown.

“I am convinced that we can win the League. We are going to win it,” he declared.

“I argue it in a simple way: in the last stretch of the season we have come very strong, with the team working at full capacity. With a coach who has clear ideas and makes us play our genuine style of football. We have recovered our essence and we have to go for the league with optimism and will.

“It will not be easy, it is clear that it is a great challenge, but I see it as feasible,” said Laporta, ever the optimist.