The president has offered an update

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has finally broken his silence on recent events at the club and explained why he decided against letting Xavi continue as first-team coach.

Xavi had looked set to stay for the 2024-25 season, after doing a major U-turn, but Barca then announced it was all over and he would step down.

Laporta’s been asked about the situation in a new interview and came out with the following explanation.

“Xavi has done a good job. He took over the team at a time of maximum difficulty. Last year he won the League and the Super Cup. This season things have not gone well, to the point that Xavi said he would not continue. I accepted because Xavi is a culé at heart and it was better not to change coaches in the middle of the season. He didn’t seem able to continue withstanding the pressure.

“Then there is a press conference in which he changes his speech and a meeting with the sports director in which he changes his requests. That makes me think that a new push must be given to get the ball rolling and maximum performance to this squad.

“We got the option of Flick, who seems capable of competing with anyone. That was decisive. I think we have finished in a very elegant way with Xavi. He has kept his word, and so have we. We have reached an agreement. He has the doors open to return because he is a culer.“

Barcelona have since appointed former Bayern and Germany boss Hans Flick as manager on a two-year deal.