27 January 2024 , 21:15
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Barcelona boss Xavi has confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
The club legend announced he will leave at the end of the current season in the aftermath of Saturday's chaotic defeat to Villarreal - which saw the Spanish champions lose more ground in the title race.
Speaking after the game, he said: “I will leave Barcelona in June. We have reached a point of no return. It's time for change. As a Culé, I think that it's time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June”.
He added: “Everything will be calmer now, we can compete for the Champions League… at least with this decision you [the press] won’t kill me anymore. The club will improve with this decision”.
And he insisted that the Catalan giants will never find an equivalent to Sir Alex Ferguson: "The feeling of being a Barca coach is unpleasant, it is cruel.
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“You feel that they disrespect you many times, that your work is not valued and it is a terrible drain on mental health and mood. I am a very positive guy but the energy is going down to the point that you say that it makes no sense to continue.
"It has happened to all the coaches who have passed by. We have to change the dynamics. It is impossible for there to be a Barca Ferguson, it is very difficult. We have to change directions and dynamics and now is the time. Unfair? I don't know, I move from the heart and when nothing makes sense it is time to act and make decisions."
The decision will comes as a huge shock with his contract set to run for a further year, until the summer of 2025. The 44-year-old took over Barcelona - a club where he has legendary status after a glittering playing career - in November 2021.
He was recruited from Qatari side Al-Sadd. Since then, Xavi has overseen 122 games in all competitions and has won 76. They finished third and won the Copa del Rey in his debut campaign.
Barcelona lifted the Spanish title last term but the defence of their crown has been miserable. Meanwhile, their European campaigns have been rotten.
For two seasons in a row, they failed to get out of the group stage in the Champions League and dropped into the Europa League. They did at least manage to qualify for the knockout rounds this term and will face reigning Italian champions Napoli in the round of 16.
Xavi will leave Barcelona a year before the end of his contract (Getty Images)Who should be Barcelona's next manager? Share your thoughts in the comments below
On Saturday night, the Catalan giants went 2-0 down to the Yellow Submarine but managed to roar back through Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri and an Eric Bailly own-goal.
Former Wolves star Goncalo Guedes equalised before two stoppage time goals condemned Barcelona to defeat. It leaves them 10 points behind current leaders and fierce rivals Real Madrid, with Catalan minnows Girona higher in the table too.
Barcelona are back in action in midweek and will take on Osasuna at their temporary home of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. They then face a kind run of fixtures against Alaves, Getafe and Celta Vigo before their Champions League showdown with Napoli.
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The search for a new manager will also begin in earnest. They could however face competition from Liverpool for their top targets, after Jurgen Klopp's shock exit announcement.