Xavi Has Not Improved FC Barcelona, Who Will Finish The Season Trophyless

Thursday night’s defeat to Athletic Club in Bilbao was a bitter pill to swallow for FC Barcelona and their head coach Xavi Hernandez.

“We’re experiencing some tough days but there’s nothing to it but to work hard and believe in the project,” it was said, after the 3-2 Copa del Rey last 16 loss in extra time.

“We have to pick ourselves up from the Supercopa defeat and this one. [They were] two tough defeats but we have to think about LaLiga and the Europa League,” he demanded.

But while Barca are way off the pace in Spanish top flight, some 17 points behind bitter rivals and leaders Real Madrid who knocked them out of the Spanish Supercup semi-final in Saudi Arabia last week, the best they can hope for is fourth place and qualifying for the Champions League next term.

Left with only its inferior alternative the Europa League to win, Barca face third placed Serie A challengers Napoli in the last 32 in under a month and look capable of finshing this current campaign trophyless.

At least Ronald Koeman, for all his faults, delivered a piece of silverware in the Copa del Rey won against Athletic Club – in what proved to be Lionel Messi’s last piece of glory with the Catalans.

And though this is a “project” as Xavi stated, which needs and deserves time, the truth is that there have been few improvements thus far compared to the Dutchman – not all of which are the Tiki-taka era midfielder’s fault.

Now completing 13 games, he has achieved just five victories as Koeman did at this point while losing four and drawing four.

Some of these were decisive matches – Benfica at Camp Nou in the Champions League, this Copa del Rey clash, El Clasico in the Supercup and Sevilla in La Liga – which just like under the Dream Team legend are not being won.

Goals are also a problem, and while Ferran Torres scored a peach early to equalize in San Mames, Xavi has found himself depending on Luuk de Jong to find the back of the net as several players such as Ansu Fati are barely able to put a handful of games together before returning to the operating table.

According to As, “failed leadership” is also an issue. “While it is true that young people show their faces and maintain hope, it is also true that they are increasingly alone in their struggle,” the Spanish daily writes. 

“The supposed leaders by age, salary and quality do not accompany them and have collapsed. From [Marc-Andre] Ter Stegen to Frenkie de Jong, passing through Memphis or Jordi Alba … they have left the rookies alone.”

Many say that Xavi should have waited until the summer to take his dream job, but there is no going back now and reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid’s visit to the Camp Nou on February 6 could either restore faith or diminish it even further.