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Valencia logo
La Liga | Gameweek 17
Dec 16, 2023 at 8pm UK
Estadio de Mestalla
Barcelona logo

Valencia
1 - 1
Barcelona

Guillamon (70')
Perez (65')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Felix (55')
de Jong (77'), Cancelo (79')

Xavi insists that he has backing of Barcelona amid exit talk

Xavi insists that he has backing of Barcelona amid exit talk
© Reuters
Barcelona head coach Xavi says that he has the backing of the club amid rumours that he could be sacked in the near future.

Barcelona head coach Xavi has no concerns that he could lose his job at the club amid suggestions that the Catalan outfit are already lining up a replacement.

Successive losses to Girona and Royal Antwerp in La Liga and the Champions League respectively have piled the pressure on Xavi, and it has been claimed that another poor result against Valencia on Saturday could lead to him losing his job.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has allegedly lined up Barcelona B boss Rafael Marquez as Xavi's replacement, but the 43-year-old has said that he has the backing of the club following a discussion with sporting director Deco.

"I am very excited. It's time to be composed, calm, and regain confidence. I believe in the project more than ever, and we are united. I spoke to with Deco yesterday, everything is ok," Xavi told reporters ahead of Saturday's clash with Valencia at Mestalla.

"I suffer more, but I like to push the wheel and continue. I give more of myself in these situations. I have not thought about stopping. I do not want to let the club of my life down.

Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on October 4, 2023© Reuters

"It's a final. We need points because we are not performing as well as we should be in the league. Defeats against Real Madrid and Girona weigh heavily on us and this is a very difficult game because Valencia at the Mestalla are a very difficult opponent.

"This happened to us last year, the same pattern. Last season in October, they wanted to get rid of everything and in the end, it was a great season. Five months ago, we were in the streets celebrating two titles.

"The club defended me directly and publicly as well. It was said that I have a bad relationship with Deco, but the relationship with him is exceptional.

"I receive messages as if everything is a funeral. I try to abstract myself, but I receive messages as if my father or mother have died. By the way, none of you congratulated me on qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 after the Antwerp game."

Barcelona's Ferran Torres celebrates scoring against Royal Antwerp on December 13, 2023© Reuters

Barcelona's 4-2 home loss to Girona in La Liga last weekend has left them down in fourth position in the table, seven points behind leaders Girona ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain's top flight.

"A month ago, you asked me if I would become Barcelona's [Sir Alex] Ferguson. I'm going crazy, now you have put me on the street and I don't know where I am," Xavi continued.

"The club needs stability. All projects, even with other teams, when there are turns, need stability. We are the champions of the league, whether we lose or draw in Valencia, we will have stability. This is what we need in the post-Lionel Messi era and in a very complex economic situation.

"Last year, I understood the noise when they eliminated us from the Champions League, but I do not understand it this year. We have finished first in the group, we are in the race for the league, and we still have to play the Copa and the Super Cup."

Barcelona will take on Valencia and Almeria in their final two La Liga matches of the year before returning to action away to Las Palmas after the winter break.

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Rafael Marquez in action for Barcelona on February 20, 2010
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2Barcelona33227468392973
3GironaGirona33225669402971
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis33121384139249
8Valencia33138123738-147
9Villarreal33129125455-145
10Getafe331013104145-443
11Osasuna33116163749-1239
12AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
13Sevilla33911134246-438
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano33713132742-1534
16Mallorca33614132739-1232
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz33414152346-2326
19Granada3349203661-2521
RAlmeria33111213267-3514


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