In the aftermath of a 4-1 Barcelona defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola voiced his unwavering support for Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández.
Guardiola, named The Best Men’s
Coach for 2023 at FIFA's The Best awards in London on Monday, urged caution
against hasty decisions and emphasized the need to support both the coach and
players during challenging times.
Guardiola advised Barcelona to
remain composed, acknowledging the recent loss but pointing out the upcoming
opportunities in the next week's game and other competitions. Speaking to
reporters, Guardiola stated, "Support [the coach and the players] and make
the decisions that have to be made at the end of the season. I want to send my
unconditional support to Xavi and the players."
While emphasizing the players'
responsibility to step forward, Guardiola acknowledged their past quality and
reminded that the season still holds numerous challenges. He highlighted the
importance of remaining supportive, particularly considering the long journey
ahead in the season.
Xavi, who secured LaLiga title
for Barcelona last season, faced criticism after the loss to Real Madrid.
Despite acknowledging the criticism, Xavi expressed confidence in himself and
the project. Barcelona is currently competing in LaLiga, the Champions League,
and the Copa del Rey.
Guardiola, who led Barcelona to three LaLiga titles and two Champions League trophies between 2008 and 2012, stressed the difficulty of the football industry and advised learning from the defeat. Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, affirmed Xavi's standing within the club, stating that questioning Xavi's future makes "no sense." Barça has fallen eight points behind leaders Girona in LaLiga but has progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The upcoming challenge for
Barcelona is a Copa del Rey round-of-16 fixture against third-tier Unionistas
de Salamanca on Thursday.
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