BARÇA
Xavi’s position not in danger despite Super Cup defeat
FC Barcelona were outclassed in Sunday’s Riyadh Super Cup final with Los Blancos running out 4-1 winners.
Xavi Hernandez cut a dejected figure as he spoke to the press after the 4-1 Super Cup defeat at the hands of Real Madrid with Vinicius Jr. bagging a hat-trick for Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
The coach from Terrassa admitted that he was disappointed and frustrated as both a Culé and as coach and stated that was not the type of game we wanted for a final. “It’s a tough defeat but there’s still a long season to go. We have three titles to compete for. It’s a tough blow for the club and the players, but we’ll be back”.
Despite the coach being under pressure following a series of under-par showings and poor results, sources from the Catalan maintain that there is no concern relating to Xavi’s position of coach at the club. “Xavi continues” is the message from Barça sources.
The message from the Catalan giants is to move onto the next challenge and that comes around next Thursday as FC Barcelona head to the city of Salamanca to face third tier outfit Unionistas in the Round of 16 of the 2023-24 Copa del Rey.
The 1A Ref are the lowest ranked side remaining in the competition and progressed to the last sixteen by disposing of Villarreal after a dramatic penalty shoot out at their compact Reina Sofia stadium with the game against Barcelona having all the characteristics of a veritable ‘banana skin’ for the 31 time Spanish Cup winners.