Barcelona's Changing Room Is Getting Hotter, Against Napoli Is The Key To Xavi's Career

Xavi Hernandez is on the brink with Barcelona (Instagram/@fcbarcelona).

JAKARTA - Tensions in Barcelona reached their peak. The results of the 3-3 series against the residents of the Granada relegation zone in the latest week of La Liga 2023/2024 became the trigger.

There are concerns Barca will not improve in the future, there will be no increase, and will not be able to address the problems that haunt them throughout the season.

The draw against Granada confirmed that Barca for the umpteenth time could not find consistency in the results or performance.

Now, the Blaugrana are 10 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the 2023/2024 La Liga standings.

Even though there is no surrender, it's still a pessimistic tone that flows rapidly. Barcelona is considered unable to end the season well, with a maximum second place in La Liga 2023/2024.

In addition, the tone of the contribution also leads to the question of Barca's doubts in reducing the huge distance from Madrid. The current distance of points is the largest ever in the history of their rivalry.

As a result, governorship, worries, tensions, and doubts also control the club, especially in the board of directors led by Joan Laporta.

Barcelona president, who fans have begun to mention as one of the causes of this situation, expressed his anger after the clash against Granada on February 12, 2024.

He couldn't hide his annoyance. However, it turns out that Laporta will not take action against Manager Xavi Hernandez for failing to get a perfect point over Granada.

It's just that, according to Marca's report, Laporta's decision to keep Xavi until the end of this season seems to have a big chance removed.

Previously, it was known that Xavi had indeed announced his resignation after this season was over. Laporta also agreed to that.

This time the situation is different. Criticism from Barca supporters following the defeat against Villarreal before the results of the series against Granada made Laporta have to intervene.

There is still the closest match to Celta Vigo. Xavi may be able to prove himself that he still deserves to stay until the end of the season considering Celta is on the verge of relegation.

The problem is, it is not the match against Celta Vigo which is the deadline for Laporta to act decisively, but the next match in the 2023/2024 Champions League against Napoli.

The two legs of the Champions League last 16 will be the key to Xavi's career. If he fails to bring the team to the quarter-finals, Laporta's great chance is to immediately dismiss him before the end of this season.

You see, Barca's management has been countable since the start of the season. The non-loss to the Champions League quarter-finals brought losses from finances. They will lose about 9.6 million viewers.

In addition, the Blaugrana economy will be unbalanced because the management has budgeted funds to reach the quarter-finals of the 2023/2024 Champions League.

No wonder the stressful situation made Laporta already prepared. He is reported to have contacted a number of names to replace Xavi if Barca fail in the last 16 of the Champions League.