Xavi stays! A decision that can propel Barcelona back to its glory days

Xavi Hernandez has decided to stay at Barcelona after initially stating in January his desire to leave the club come end of the season.

Many fans and football followers are still in shock at his decision, believing there is more behind why and how Barcelona’s management convinced him to stay.

Guarantees, key signings, technical reinforcements?

Here’s a breakdown of Barcelona under Xavi Hernandez and what his decision to stay means for the Catalan club.

Xavi assumed the role of Barcelona head coach in November 2021.

It was a truly tough time for the club, as Barcelona sat in 9th place on the league standings in La Liga, while on the verge of elimination in their UEFA Champions League group in the 2021/2022 season.

Xavi took over, and Barcelona still failed to clinch a place in the knockout round after failing to beat Benfica at home at the Nou Camp.

For the first time in a long time, Barcelona dropped down from Europe’s premium club competition to the Europa League soon after Xavi took charge.

Xavi had broken the jinx, and Barca had won two titles since Lionel Messi’s departure in 2021.

The only negative was the club’s embarrassing performance in the Champions League after failing to qualify from their group which had all of Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Victoria Plzen.

This season, however, Barcelona were far from how good they were last season.It was partly attributed to injuries as Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Frenkie De Jong, Pedri, Ter Stegen, Inigo Martinez and many other players including Robert Lewandowski found themselves on the sidelines.

Following Barca’s 4-1 humiliation to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in January 2024, and a 5-3 loss in La Liga to Villareal, Xavi announced his decision to depart the club in the summer.

That decision became even more realistic after Barcelona’s drastic elimination from the Champions League to PSG at home in April 2024, before a 3-2 loss at the hands of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu five days later.

Nonetheless, there’s been a huge turnaround surrounding Xavi’s future.

Following a meeting between the club’s management and Xavi at President Joan Laporta’s house on Wednesday, the Spanish coach has changed his mind, indicating that there is unfinished business at the Catalan club.

Barca Vice President Rafa Yuste reacts to Xavi’s decision to stay at Barcelona.

The complicity and support of the players has also been key”, he said to the press on Thursday after the club’s announcement of his continuance.

Xavi has made a u-turn and will stay at Barcelona beyond this season.

— #3Sports (@3SportsGh)

Barcelona have 21 wins, seven draws and four defeats in La Liga this season, yet although the title is almost out of reach, Xavi has 93 wins in 146 matches as coach of Barcelona, drawing 25 times while losing 28 games in the period.