BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Xavi Hernandez will not continue as Barcelona coach after this season, saying he cannot lift the team out of the slump.
Xavi announced his decision minutes after Barcelona lost 5-3 to Villarreal in the Spanish league on Saturday, leaving them 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
“I want to announce that on June 30 I will stop being the coach of Barça,” Xavi said. “As a Barcelona fan, I cannot let this situation continue, we need a change of course and dynamics.”
Xavi said that he had made the decision “several days ago”, and although the shock defeat to Villarreal had created the situation for him to announce the decision, he “would have done it” sooner. He said that he hopes this decision will reduce the stress of his team.
“The feeling of being Barcelona’s coach is cruel, unpleasant, you feel like you don’t get the respect you deserve,” Xavi said. “It tires you out, affects your mental health, your emotions, to the extent that you say you can’t go on. My loved ones know this.”
Xavi returned to Barcelona as coach in November 2021 with his only experience being in Qatar. He is under contract until the end of next season.
Xavi, 44, led Barcelona to the Spanish Super Cup title and the Spanish League title last season, the club’s first trophies since Lionel Messi’s departure. The club mortgaged their future to help them by signing players like Robert Lewandowski.
But Barcelona have struggled this season and have shown serious signs of decline this month.
