FC Barcelona’s home defeat against the surprising Girona team (2-4) is very difficult to get over. Fourth in the Liga standings, seven points behind the leader, the Catalan club is disillusioned. An awkward situation for the reigning Catalan champions. And Xavi may be a former culé glory, but he does not have the totem of immunity.
Moreover, after declaring after the match that his team was “under construction”, the 2010 world champion annoyed more than one. Certainly, Barça no longer has the financial means it had before, but Xavi is logically criticized for having mentioned the term construction when he has been at the head of the team for two years now.
A team considered fragile
Spied on from all sides, Joan Laporta knows that his every move will be interpreted at a time when Xavi’s future is being called into question. His decision to attend a Barça reserve team match was also interpreted as a sign of support for Rafa Marquez, whose name returns to succeed Xavi. But this time, Laporta knew how to remain discreet. Which doesn’t stop Xav’s rating from falling.
At half-time of the match against Girona, the Blaugrana coach returned to his players according to Mundo Deportivo with an offensive speech. In vain. The daily adds that it is even the general alert within Barça. Several managers (Lewandowski, De Jong, Gündogan, Araujo) made numerous errors against Girona and the team is considered mentally fragile. And this morning, Sport also speaks of a morally affected locker room. Will Barça raise their heads tomorrow in the Champions League against Antwerp?
