FC Barcelona’s head coach Xavi Hernandez’s future with the club is uncertain following a thumping 4-1 loss against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 14, reported Spanish news outlet Cadena SER on Tuesday.
Barcelona are currently fourth in La Liga with 41 points, eight behind Los Blancos who are second with 48, and can go top of the league with a win over Almeria on January 21.
While he has been backed by key figures at the club like Sporting Director Deco and President Joan Laporta, pressure is growing on Xavi from behind the scenes and there is not much time for the former midfielder.
Barca’s board has insisted on keeping Xavi at least till the end of the current season. However, if things started to fall apart, they would not think twice before making a final decision on the Spaniard’s future at the club.
Barca’s Head of Sport Joan Vehlis told Cadera SER after Blaugrana’s humiliating defeat on Sunday night that Xavi has three to four games to secure his future at the club.
The Catalan club play Unionistas de Salamanca on Thursday in their round of 16 Copa del Rey match and then they will play Napoli in a UEFA Champions League knockout encounter.
If Barca fail to make it past the next round of either tournament, Xavi’s time at the club will come to an end and they will appoint Rafael Marquez from Barca Atletic as an interim coach.
As things stand, Xavi hardly has three to four games to make things easy for himself and their next fixtures are not easy by any means.
FC Barcelona’s next 5 matches
Copa del Rey: Unionistas de Salamanca away, January 18
La Liga: Real Betis away, January 21
La Liga: Villarreal at home, January 27
La Liga: Osasuna at home, January 31
La Liga: Alaves away, February 3