FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has been in hot waters since last week as his team has lost the last two matches against Royal Antwerp in the Champions League and against Girona in La Liga.
Although the recent defeat against Royal Antwerp didn’t affect Barcelona in the Champions League, it was nonetheless painful, arriving on the heels of another loss in the league against Girona.
This setback has intensified media scrutiny on Xavi, a concern he voiced in the press conference ahead of the Valencia match. However, the former midfielder has also gotten support from some unlikely quarters, as the Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, had some words of sympathy for him.
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Carlo Ancelotti was talking to journalists ahead of his team’s match against Villarreal, and he complimented Xavi on his performance up to now, and the demands put on managers of big European clubs:
“I can’t choose which team is the most complicated. In general, it’s normal for a coach to face criticism. We have to accept it, and then each person can decide which criticisms they consider fair or unfair.”
“Coaches are judged solely based on results. Nobody cares about the coach’s methodology or their ability to manage the team. It’s just about whether they win or not, and Xavi knows this very well. To me, he’s a great coach.”
Carlo Ancelotti and Xavi Hernandez currently manage two clubs involved in the biggest rivalry in the world of football. However, the comments made by Ancelotti, despite this rivalry, go on to show the good relationship between these two managers.
Ancelotti’s comments will surely be received by Xavi in a good way, but these comments are unlikely to relieve any pressure on the Barcelona head coach, who will have to get a win against Valencia at all costs to end the year on a good note.
