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Barcelona head coach Xavi is dropping the backing of some gamers within the dressing room, a brand new report has claimed.
The Catalan giants have been dismantled in Sunday’s Supercopa de Espana closing by rivals Actual Madrid, happening to a heavy 4-1 defeat after Vinicius Junior’s first half hat-trick, and issues haven’t been going swimmingly for Barca in La Liga both.
Plenty of attracts have seen Xavi’s facet drop eight factors behind shock table-toppers Girona on the midway mark of the season, although they do have a sport in hand, and 7 behind second-place Madrid.
ESPN report that there is rising discontent from a few of Barcelona’s gamers relating to the staff’s model of play, with some stated to be questioning the strategy of the legendary Spaniard. The ill-feeling is claimed to pre-date Barca’s humbling defeat to Madrid in Saudi Arabia, with one other concern considered Xavi’s preferential remedy of some gamers within the dressing room.
Xavi has usually criticised the character of his staff when outcomes haven’t gone Barcelona’s means, although he has at all times backed his gamers to show issues round and ship the optimistic outcomes demanded by the membership’s supporters and hierarchy.
His Barcelona contract runs till the summer season of 2025, giving him slightly below 18 months to construct on final season’s convincing title win – one which noticed the membership end 10 factors away from Madrid.
Crucially, Xavi has been unable to ship the identical success for Barcelona in Europe. Final season the membership have been knocked out of the Champions League on the group stage and have been then unable to get the higher of Manchester United in a two-legged play-off to enter the Europa League on the final 16 stage.
Barcelona topped Group H this season forward of Porto, however solely cemented their place as group winners due to a superior head-to-head file. They disappointingly misplaced away at each Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp – the latter of whom have been taking part in within the Champions League for the primary time – and accrued simply 12 factors from a attainable 18.
There have additionally been query marks over the suitability of Robert Lewandowski up entrance. The 35-year-old Pole, famed for his goalscoring exploits over the previous decade at Bayern Munich, has struggled to keep up the shape he confirmed in his first season at Barcelona, with many outwardly questioning the membership’s resolution to present the Pole a four-year contract upon his arrival from Bavaria.
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