Xavi knows what this Barca team needs – Laporta drops hint over new coach
Robin Bairner
- 29 Oct 2021 15:41 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hinted that Xavi will be the club’s next coach, as reports have widely suggested.
Xavi, who is presently in charge of Al Sadd in Qatar, is the strong favourite to take over the reins at Camp Nou following the sacking of Ronald Koeman on Wednesday.
Barca find themselves in a delicate position, ninth in La Liga and in desperate need to qualify for the Champions League next season to help prop up their miserable finances.
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The next step that the Catalans make will be critical, and the indications are that Xavi will be the man to get their confidence.
Certainly, Laporta’s words at a press conference held alongside interim boss Sergi Barjuan pointed in that direction.
“I’ve been in touch with Xavi since the electoral campaign and contact has never been broken,” the president said.
“I’ve got very good references from people who are very close to him and know him more than I do. But I know what he thinks of the team and what they have to do.”
Although Xavi was a selling point for Laporta’s rivals in the presidential elections, he has persistently been someone spoken of as a Barca coach of the future.
“I’ve always said that Xavi will train Barca one day,” Laporta added. “He lives for football, he belongs to Barcelona and he has the club as one of his major priorities in life.
“I have a very good relationship with him. We’ll see how everything evolves.”
When will Xavi be named as Barca manager?
While Sergi will take charge of the side for Saturday’s Primera Division match with Alaves.
Xavi could arrive in Barcelona thereafter, with reports stating that Al Sadd will not stand in the way of his dream job.
It is very likely that he is in charge at Barca by the time they return from the November international break.
