Empty year pushes Barca towards inevitable bench decision | Relief

The change in dynamics that Xavi boasted after his announcement was tumultuous. The team won the first games again. After that, he even once again resembled Barca who won La Liga last year, regaining their defensive solidity as well as an improved version of several key elements. But the arrival of spring, when the seasons are determined, brought the tragic week of Blaugrana.. And during the April holidays, the club has no choice but to study who will become the next coach.

“Six games left and we need to win the Super Cup.”– Xavi commented in the press center of Santiago Bernabeu. The coach continues to challenge an emotionally exhausted team. Problems that may seem empty after the failure in the Champions League and almost losing La Liga. but at the same time important for the club’s portfolio. At the same time, the balance against Madrid this year is completely negative: three games, three defeats.

Javi, who seemed reluctant to enforce the march by wearing makeup that was not possible “today” or “at the moment,” seemed to have crossed the self-declared point of no return. He is further away from Real Madrid now than when he announced he would leave at the end of the season.after the defeat to Villarreal. The Catalan press commented on the possibility of a meeting about the future coach after the Classics. Xavi denied this on Saturday: “There is no meeting. I’m not in charge, there will be time to talk.”– he noted.

Return to starting point

But time passes, and the season, which will end empty, is gradually dying. Ahead of May, the club does not know which coach it will bet on. Until now, the first option was to try to convince Javi to take a step back.. Barça returns to square one in 2021. With the League and Super Cup at hand, and in football terms with several players who are part of the manager’s legacy.But at an institutional level, we do not know who will lead the club and how – if possible – Barça will sign the contract.. Laporta’s idea so far, among other things, has been to revive another season for Joao, but they were left in limbo last week. Especially Cancelo.

As for the bench, There is a certain part of the environment that is starting to explain Rafa Marquez as the most realistic option.. The Mexican, whom Laporta always had as an ace up his sleeve in case of an emergency – an emergency that might have occurred after Villarreal if not for Xavi’s decision to announce his retirement – is “focused on the final stretch of the tournament.” A few hours before the Classic, Barça Athletic defeated Lugo to finish the day in second place, six points behind Depor..

Marquez stays away

And although Marquez had already made statements that worried the club’s noble zone, it was after the belated farewell to Xavi that he was asked again about his future. “I’m trying to live in a bubble and I don’t learn much. This is an important experience for me and I hope it will help me achieve my best with this team,” explained the smart Marquez.

Xavi was proud of his players at the end of the match, despite the defeat. And there are reasons to look to the future with some optimism: Kubarsi played a good game (despite the harsh penalty handed to him against Lucas), Fermin made his White House debut, and Lamin drove Madrid’s defense crazy. Youth on one side and with a marked part of the path, Laporta is entering a summer during which he will have to make transcendental decisions.