Xavi’s chances of winning trophies diminish after Barcelona’s Copa del Rey exit

BARCELONA (AP) — Javi Hernandez’s chances of saving Barcelona’s season – and perhaps his own job – are rapidly diminishing.

Barcelona have seen their two best chances to win a trophy this football year disappear. Xavi’s side were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, losing 4-2 to Athletic Bilbao in extra time.

The setback came two weeks after Real Madrid beat Barca in the Spanish Super Cup.

The Catalan club now has hope only for the Spanish League and the Champions League. And in neither of the two tournaments does he look like one of the favorites.

Barcelona are in third place in La Liga, eight points behind leaders Girona and seven points behind second-place Madrid. Although Xavi led the team to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in three years, it is clear that he is one or two steps below heavyweights such as Manchester City or Madrid.

Xavi, 44, whose only previous coaching experience was in Qatari football, admitted a trophy-less season would be too long to keep his job, even as a former player beloved by fans and with a contract that never expires. …but until the end of the next season.

“All managers of big teams depend on titles,” admitted Xavi after the defeat in Bilbao. “I said reality: if we are not at the level of competitiveness, then it’s okay that I leave. We’re in a big club. I’m in Barca. We fought and worked. If you don’t win, the coach will be named.”

Xavi returned in November 2021 to take charge of the club he played for as a child. He successfully overhauled the team, which sealed its future but won La Liga the previous season.

This is the only significant title for the Catalan team since the departure of Argentine star Lionel Messi.

But Barcelona have been inconsistent this season, during which they were expected to look younger and in better shape following the departure of veterans such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who are now Messi’s Miami teammates. Barca also lost key midfielder Gavi Paes and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to injury.

The absence was not compensated for by the arrival of reinforcements such as Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Felix.

Luckily for Xavi, his side will return home on Saturday to host Villarreal in La Liga.

“We have to win now, on Saturday,” Xavi warned. “The team will rise by winning games. We need to focus on La Liga and the Champions League.”

Villarreal, who are languishing in 14th place, are winless in their last four games but are hoping to finish at least in the top half of the table under Marcelino Garcia Toral.

Madrid will also be active on Saturday when they visit the Canary Islands to face stubborn Las Palmas.

Normally these would be simple customs for those led by Carlo Ancelotti. But Las Palmas exceeded the expectations set for a modest club that had only been promoted the previous season.

They are in eighth place thanks to the second best defense, conceding just 17 goals in total. Madrid have the best record, scoring just 13 goals.

Girona, the surprise leader having played one more game than Madrid and Barcelona, ​​visit Rafa Benitez’s Celta de Vigo on Sunday. Both teams were knocked out of the Copa del Rey this week.