Tension continues to grow at FC Barcelona in recent weeks following worrying performances. The position of Xavi Hernandez has been targeted by the media as being under threat and constant watch. However, those from within Barcelona continue to deny any such allegations or doubts.
Faith is maintained in the Barcelona coach, and many officials of the club agree with this. However, a certain chain of events recently has raised quite a few eyebrows. The latest squad list against Royal Antwerp was one that saw several last-minute changes, and this looked suspicious to many.
Originally, Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie De Jong were excluded from the squad. However, not too long after, three of the four were reintroduced into the call. Only the Dutchman remains absent, and that too is due to a personal health issue.
According to Xavi himself, as highlighted by SPORT, the decision was made after an important discussion. This agreement, as the Barcelona manager states, was made between Xavi himself, Deco, and Joan Laporta:
“We decided it as a club: president, Deco, players, coaches… The itinerary changed, an extra night in Antwerp, and that’s why we altered the squad.”
However, recent reports provide a contradictory view of the entire situation. As per RAC1, it was actually Laporta himself who forced Xavi to reintroduce those players back into the squad list. As such, whispers and rumors of the president now getting involved in the direct team decisions are beginning to spread.
Regardless of this, the stance from within the Barcelona locker room remains persistent. They agree with the words of their head coach, and admit that the decision was consensual between the manager, the director, and the Barcelona President.
Moreover, they also insist that the relationship between Xavi and Laporta remains as solid as ever. Despite rumors trying to suggest that things have taken a turn for the worse, it appears that those within Barcelona continue to legitimately keep their faith in Xavi Hernandez.