Telling Xavi Hernandez response explains Barcelona noise amid advice to Hansi Flick | OneFootball

Outgoing Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez signed off from his spell with a 2-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday night, and gave his final press conference in charge. As has been the case for much of the last few months, it was defined by a general frustration.

Xavi explained out on the pitch that he felt as if there were elements within the club have placed undue blame on him, and perhaps explains some of the constant turmoil the club has been in since things began to go wrong this season.

“Honestly, I have the feeling that everything I have done has caused an earthquake these two and a half years. On many occasions the finger has been point at me. (Is that from inside or outside?) In general. We have not had peace of mind but I just have to accept it. It is the law of football.”

His warnings to the new coach, which barring another absurd turn will be Hansi Flick, did not paint a pretty picture of things to come in Catalonia.

“I hope they know that they have a difficult situation. Barca are a difficult club but the economic situation is also adverse. The new coach will suffer. Be patient because this club is not easy. The only thing that will save you is winning. I have been put under the microscope a lot. There have been expectations generated by being a member of the best generation of Barca that have worked against me,” Xavi told the media, as carried by MD.

“We are neither perfect nor do we want to be. We have made mistakes in many things, especially this season. At a tactical level we have to learn but it has been a great learning experience. This year we have had to suffer more than enjoy it but it is football. That’s life.”

Xavi had also expressed that he was keen to continue and felt his work at the club was not over, but his press conferences in recent weeks perhaps suggest that there was little way forward. The continuous animosity between himself and the press, the division over his management, and the lack of direction on the pitch meant next season would start off on the backfoot already.