FC BARCELONA
Xavi’s two major outstanding challenges for the remainder of the 23-24 season
The Barça coach will stand down in June, but for the club’s finances, it’s imperative they secure a top four place in LaLiga and go deep in the Champions League.
Xavi surprised many on Saturday night when the coach confirmed that he plans to step down as Barcelona boss at the end of the season, the Blaugrana now need to have a replacement ready to go on 1 July - assuming that the current head coach sees out the rest of the campaign as he intends to.
For the time being, the Barça board plans to leave Xavi in his position until his stated departure date of 30 June, but if results continue to go against the LaLiga champions, that could change.
The former player has been constantly under fire in the past few weeks and his team have slipped up time and time again with a poor showing at the Super Cup shortly followed up with a Copa del Rey quarter final exit last week at the hands of Athletic Club.
Two key objectives remain for Xavi
As things stand in LaLiga, the race for the league title looks to set to be a two horse race between Girona and Real Madrid and despite Barcelona still a long shot to win a successive league title, as things stand the Catalan giants are ten points behind Ancelotti’s side and 11 behind local rivals Girona.
Both Xavi’s outstanding challenges have major financial impacts for the Catalan side and failure to achieve either would lead to a heavy economic hit at a time where the club are still endeavouring to reduce the club’s debt and finance the new Camp Nou project.
Securing a top four finish is imperative and especially next season with UEFA set to launch the expanded ‘Swiss Model’ Champions League format with more group stage games. Barcelona would pocket approximately $20M for qualifying with subsequent progression leading to higher television income and participation in European football’s premium competition an attractive proposition in attracting sponsorship.
A place in next year’s Spanish Super Cup is also on the line and to guarantee a place in Saudi Arabia next January (with the $7M that brings), the Catalan side need to finish second in LaLiga with Girona and Real Madrid already eliminated from the cup competition. Both Copa del Rey finalists plus the top two sides in LaLiga will head to Riyadh for the Super Cup.
Outgunning Atleti in the Champions League key
Securing a place in the first ever expanded FIFA Club World Cup is also on the line for Barcelona. At present, one Spanish representative (Real Madrid) have guaranteed their place by virtue of their 2022 Champions League win over Liverpool in Paris.
As things stand, one other Spanish club will participate and the team in question will qualify, either through victory in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League (Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, or Real Sociedad) or via the UEFA 4-year ranking (Atleti or Barcelona).
Barcelona currently trail Diego Simeone’s side in this UEFA four-year ranking and will only secure a ticket to the United States in the summer of 2025 if they advance further than the Colchoneros in the Champions League this season.
Failure for a club with the international stature of Barcelona not to have a presence at this new CWC competition would deliver a major blow to the club’s global brand and once again have negative financial ramifications for the Catalan side.