Two Key Reasons Why Barça Sacked Manager Xavi
First, it’s clear that Xavi genuinely loves FC Barcelona. Aware of the club’s financial difficulties, he took on the role by paying his own €2.5 million release clause. Even if he were dismissed, he didn’t demand severance pay or his remaining salary. However, Xavi’s coaching skills have been somewhat limited.
Firstly, he struggled to manage relationships with both the club’s management and the players. Before his dismissal by Laporta, Xavi publicly announced plans to release Lewandowski and Roque in the upcoming summer transfer window and decided not to exercise the buyout options for Félix and Cancelo—without prior consultation with the management. This likely alienated certain people.
Additionally, some non-La Masia players, like Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong, openly challenged Xavi’s authority in the dressing room, while the La Masia players, possibly out of respect for Xavi’s legendary status, refrained from expressing dissatisfaction.
Although Xavi led Barcelona to the 2022/2023 La Liga title, his overall performance has left much to be desired. Both his tactical planning and in-game adjustments have raised doubts about his status as a top-tier coach. A key measure of a coach’s ability is their performance in the Champions League, where Xavi’s Barcelona has struggled. In the 22/23 season, they finished behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the group stage, dropping to the Europa League. Even in the 23/24 season, despite being placed in a relatively weaker group, their play has still been inconsistent and unconvincing.
