Poor performance dogs Barcelona
Damoy Rowe
After a recent run of underwhelming performances, fans have been calling for the coach’s resignation, especially with crucial fixtures up ahead for the Spanish Giants after the international break.
After Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Alaves on Sunday, Xavi immediately had to defend himself after his team once again had to lean on individual excellence to redeem a very lacklustre performance. This time around, it was Robert Lewandowski who saved Blaugrana, but the striker’s second-half double did little to hide the cracks in Barcelona’s foundation.
Barca’s poor performances have become somewhat of an annual tradition for Xavi as last season, the boss faced similar questions but was able to turn around the season. Barcelona clinched their first trophy since 2021 by defeating Real Madrid 3–1 in the Supercopa de España final and winning their first La Liga title since 2019. At that time, the Blaugrana were slumping in the Champions League and had suffered a demoralising Clasico loss, leading to many questioning his top-class managerial experience.
Though Barca were privileged in the end to earn silverware for last season, their attacking quality was lacking, and this season their defensive exploits, which should have gotten better, have somewhat regressed, and the litany of big-name signings that were supposed to make Barca an attacking force haven’t really been able to produce the La Masia-bred, football that Xavi had promised.
Barca are third in La Liga, but if a surging Atletico Madrid can win their game in hand, this would see the Spanish team slip down to fourth in the table. Though crucial injuries have marred Barca’s 2023/2024 campaign with them having to do without Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ronald Araujo for extended periods, Xavi finds himself under the spotlight with a crucial run of games to come almost immediately after the international break, which have the potential to ruin the Catalan Giants season if maximum points aren’t secured.
After travelling to Rayo Vallecano, Barca will host Porto in what has now become a must-not-lose Champions League game after their shock defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, before facing Atletico Madrid and surprise table-toppers Girona in back-to-back league games to start December.
Xavi must find the answers quickly, with his team in dire form, to ensure Barca’s season and his future isn’t defined before the turn of the year. Though he will likely be given the chance to do so, if Xavi’s team can’t recapture their best form and begin to drop crucial points, it’s hard to see the Barca manager staying in a job much longer.
