Barca Boss Xavi Picks Out Potential Successor – But Issues Stark Warning 

Barcelona Boss Xavi has picked his potential successor, but warned that “the same thing will happen to him as to Pep Guardiola and me”.

Xavi has declared his intention to leave the Catalan club, citing personal and physical challenges he has faced since taking over in November 2021. Xavi’s season will come to an end at the end of the current campaign after suffering a 4-1 crushing at the hands of Real Madrid in the Super Cup final, an ugly departure from the Copa del Rey against Athletic Club, and a 5-3 home loss to Villarreal last weekend.

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When Xavi was asked by reporters about his possible replacement, he said: “Rafa (Marquez) is my friend, he is preparing to coach the Barça first team one day and it is legal. The rest is the job of [sporting director] Deco and the president.”

Marquez is a former Barca player who plied his trade at Camp Nou between 2003 and 2010, and he is the current coach of the club’s B team – which plays in the third tier of the Spanish league system.

However, Xavi was also quick to fire a warning to Marquez when asked if he has any advice to the next first-team coach: “The same thing will happen to him as to Guardiola or me. This is the problem: it will happen to him. My advice is to be natural, to do what you feel and not to let yourself be influenced. That’s what I’ve done and I’m proud. My dream was to coach Barcelona, play good football and win. And it has been achieved. Not this season, but I leave with a very clear conscience.”

Xavi acknowledged that he was made to feel unworthy of the team every day and that he had considered quitting at the start of the season. Barcelona is still in the Champions League and is vying for La Liga. Even if they win both crowns, though, Xavi thinks it won’t be enough to appease critics.

“This season, what has failed us are the results, although we can still make it good. It’s difficult but we still have two titles at stake,” he said. “We are very excited about the Champions League, but my feeling is that, whatever you do, it will not be valued and that wear and tear is not worth it. That’s why I made the decision.

“When I say that we are under construction, you kill me. I also tell a story. When I say that we do not have the Barça of 2010, there is also criticism. I have the feeling that, whatever I say and whatever I do, it’s not enough. I have the feeling that they’re not going to buy anything from me. Not even winning the League 14 points behind Madrid, not the Super Cup, not the young people, not being a club man… Therefore, my decision. It is a matter of the environment, of the club, of demands and myself. I have the feeling that I must leave.”

Between 2008 and 2013, Guardiola had tremendous success in the Camp Nou dugout; yet, he left for similar reasons to those of Xavi. The manager of Manchester City at the moment has maintained that the pressure he faces in Spain is far worse than it is in England.

“We cannot compare the pressure we have in England to Spain, in my experience,” he told his latest press conference. “It’s a thousand times tougher there. Six press conferences a week, a lot of games. The pressure you feel in Barcelona is not comparable anywhere else.”

Wednesday’s La Liga matchup between Xavi and Osasuna will see him command his team. He hasn’t been in the Barcelona dugout since he made his departure public until now. He will be eager to win and make a statement after facing negative attention from different media outlets after losing to Villarreal 5-3.