A name has been on everyone’s lips on Barça’s side since Ronald Koeman was asked to put his things away and bow down: Xavi. The former emperor of the Barcelona environment would indeed be the favorite to succeed the Dutchman, his Al-Saad club in Qatar would also agree not to obstruct his departure during the season. But as long as nothing is official yet, the president of FC Barcelona Joan Laporta prefers to remain cautious in his communication.
“I have a friendly relationship with Xavi and we have spoken regularly over the past few months. My opinion [à son égard] is good, very good, he said at a press conference on Friday, accompanied by interim coach Sergi Barjuan. I always said that Xavi would one day end up coaching Barca. Better: I would like him to be Barça coach under my presidency. What I don’t know is: when? “.
“Xavi’s name is there,” he admitted when a reporter asked him about the possibility of the imminent arrival of the former middle magician. “But there are also other possibilities,” he however tempered, refusing to say if the next coach would arrive before, during or after the winter break.
Laporta admits timing error vis-à-vis Koeman
Beaten Wednesday on the field of Rayo Vallecano, Barça points to a humiliating 9th place in the Spanish Championship after 11 days. These poor results cost his place the Dutchman Ronald Koeman, sacked in the wake.
“The situation had become untenable,” said Laporta. Keeping Koeman in his post “could cause a significant drop in our ambitions for this season, which are to win titles.” “We should perhaps have thanked Koeman earlier, and I take responsibility for it,” said Laporta, but “he remains a great Barça”, he who was a player of the club from 1989 to 1995.
Under the direction of Sergi Barjuan, former coach of the reserve team, Barça receives Alavés on Saturday (9 p.m.) in La Liga and will challenge Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday 2 November (9 p.m.) in the Champions League.