Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Barcelona

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 April 2024, 19:31
Xavi has reportedly reversed his decision to stand down as Barcelona head coach, with the former midfielder agreeing to remain at Camp Nou until at least the end of his contract in June 2025.

At the end of January, following a 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal, the 44-year-old announced that he would be leaving his role as manager this summer.

Xavi said at the time that Barcelona needed a change of direction, but the team's performances and results since his shock statement have improved.

The Catalan outfit have lost their last two matches, being eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on April 16 courtesy of a 4-1 home defeat in the second leg of their quarter-final.

Barcelona then lost 3-2 at Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday evening, with the result all but ending their already-slim La Liga title hopes.

Xavi 'set to stay in charge of Barcelona beyond the summer'

However, the Catalan side had been on a 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions ahead of the contest against PSG, and their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League was seen as a positive due to their recent struggles in the competition.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco have been working to convince Xavi to reverse his decision and stay at the club.

Meanwhile, the club's vice-president Rafa Yuste said at the end of last month that Xavi was wanted as part of "a long-term project" at Camp Nou.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, following a meeting on Wednesday evening, Xavi has changed his mind and agreed to remain as Barcelona boss.

Barcelona could allegedly make an announcement on Thursday confirming that their current manager will stay in charge beyond the end of the campaign.

Is Xavi's alleged decision the right one?

The Catalan outfit are 11 points behind Real Madrid in the La Liga table, so unless something extraordinary happens, there will be no league title this season.

Barcelona's elimination from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage was also a huge disappointment under the circumstances, having won the first leg 3-2 in Paris.

Ronald Araujo's red card in the second leg changed the contest, though, and it might have been a different story had the Uruguay international remained on the field.

The team have shown huge improvement in the second half of the season, and the signs are bright for Barcelona, with their financial situation also set to improve in the near future.

There will have to be a couple of big sales this summer, but there are also set to be incomings, and Xavi must believe that he will have a competitive squad next season; the future looks very bright, meanwhile, due to the incredible talents the club possess in the shape of Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi and Pedri.

Top News

5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic will make wholesale changes to his XI for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique will be forced into a defensive alteration for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Made to pay for missed opportunities in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain seek to right their German wrongs in Tuesday's return battle with Borussia Dortmund. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has heavily criticised his side for their performance in Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Catalan rivals Girona in Spain's top flight. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly miss out on the chance to sign Real Madrid centre-back Nacho this summer, with the Spaniard said to be preparing to continue his career in North America. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly keen to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager this summer, with the Dutchman potentially losing his job at Manchester United. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Kasimpasa (Sunday, 2.00pm) Two sides vying for a top-four finish in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head when Istanbul Basaksehir host Kasimpasa at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Farense vs. Estoril (Sunday, 3.30pm) Two sides separated by just one point in the Primeira Liga standings go head to head on Sunday as SC Farense play host to Estoril Praia at the Estadio de Sao Luis. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Berlin vs. VfL Bochum (Sunday, 2.30pm) Both aiming to take a massive step towards top-flight safety, Union Berlin and VfL Bochum will lock horns at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday afternoon in the Bundesliga. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cagliari vs. Lecce (Sunday, 11.30am) Both with four games left to save their Serie A status, relegation battlers Cagliari and Lecce meet in Sardinia on Sunday afternoon. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Osasuna vs. Betis (Sunday, 1.00pm) Real Betis will be bidding to strengthen their grip on a European position in the La Liga table when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Sunday afternoon to tackle Osasuna. 5 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton vs. Aston Villa (Sunday, 2.00pm) Champions League qualification could officially be sealed for Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, where an out-of-sorts Brighton & Hove Albion side await for a Premier League showdown. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly opened talks with Getafe over a second loan spell for Mason Greenwood. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland has taken a swipe at former Manchester United man Roy Keane after scoring four goals in Manchester City's 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly prepared to offer defender Jarell Quansah a new lucrative long-term contract. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 32 of the 2023-24 Eredivisie season concludes with a meeting between SBV Excelsior and NEC at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Monday evening. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has insisted that Arsenal "will win" the Premier League title if his Manchester City side drop points in any of their remaining three matches. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gary O'Neil has admitted that his Wolverhampton Wanderers side were "no way near at the level" to test Manchester City in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League defeat at the Etihad Stadium. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of captain Bruno Fernandes for Monday's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be bidding to return to sixth position in the Premier League table when they head to Selhurst Park on Monday evening to tackle an in-form Crystal Palace outfit. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have won the 2023-24 La Liga title with four games to spare, securing the famous trophy for the 36th time in their history. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona produced a remarkable turnaround to claim a 4-2 win over Catalan rivals Barcelona to secure Champions League football and hand Real Madrid the La Liga title. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City remain within touching distance of Premier League leaders Arsenal after securing a dominant 5-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois revealed his delight at making his first appearance of the 2023-24 campaign in Saturday afternoon's La Liga clash with Cadiz. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta lavished praise on Kai Havertz for the Germany international's performance in Saturday's 3-0 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk David Raya's clean sheet in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon has seen the Spain international secure the Premier League Golden Glove award for the 2023-24 campaign. 4 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford and Fulham earned a point each in Saturday afternoon's goalless draw in the Premier League at the Brentford Community Stadium.