The Barcelona star that failed Xavi: "I wish I could have done more for him"

Xavi Hernandez made the decision a few weeks ago to leave Barcelona after the end of the 2023/24 season. He announced this after the tough 5-3 defeat vs Villarreal in Montjuic, explaining that he believed that this was the best thing for the club. The team's poor performances and disappointing results in recent months were the determining factors for that decision, but there was more to it than that.

Undoubtedly the coach decided to announce it at that moment and not wait until the end of the season to relieve the pressure on the players of the squad. Now all the criticism from the press and the fans is aimed at Xavi, since he himself acknowledged his mistakes and his inability to improve the team's performance. It is likely that this strategy will be useful so that in the key stages of the Champions League and La Liga the players are more relaxed and can focus on their work.

Barcelona's top stars respect and admire the Spanish manager, not only for his glorious past on the pitch, but for his teachings now. Among them is Ilkay Gundogan, who this week gave an interview to La Vanguardia and surprised everyone with his praise for Hernandez.

"He was fundamental for me to come and I am very grateful to him. He thinks of the family, the players and the club before himself. Xavi loves Barça," said the German midfielder. And then, when asked about the coach's decision to leave at the end of the season, he said: "I was surprised by Xavi's decision, I didn't expect it. I wish I could have done more for him, I have that feeling".

They can still succeed

Barcelona have already been eliminated from the Copa del Rey and lost the Super Cup final to Real Madrid, while in La Liga they are too far from the top. But there is still one tournament they can win: the Champions League. They are in the round of 16 and there they will face Napoli. Should they advance, they will be in the top eight and Gundogan is confident that they can succeed: "I'll be honest, I see other teams with more possibilities and experience. But if we qualify for the quarterfinals, we're in special territory.