LA LIGA THE UGLY
Xavi Hernandez’s return to Barcelona was greeted with the expected fanfare of one of La Blaugrana’s favourite sons after Ronald Koeman’s exit debacle. Defeat to Rayo was the final straw for Koeman, with Barcelona finally removing the unpopular Dutchman to pave the way for their long-term succession plan with Xavi. Despite his all-star career for both club and country, his coaching CV in Qatar opened up fierce speculation over his suitability to coach at this level, regardless of his on-field legacy in Catalonia. A mixed start in La Liga deepened those concerns, but the biggest storm at Camp Nou came from their eventual and embarrassing group stage exit from the Champions League for the first time since 2001. One point from two games in Europe under Xavi meant the five times winners suffered an inglorious departure from the biggest stage. Xavi’s frankness over their thrashing by
Bayern Munich encapsulated both the malaise around the transition from Koeman, but also the deeper realisation that his former club no longer have a place at the top table. His message on the reality of a Europa League place for Barcelona in 2022 has woken up large sections of an irritated fan base on the direction the club is heading, at least in the short term, with his brief of reversing their slide looking ever more daunting. The brightest array of La Masia talent in a decade will be the basis for Xavi’s new Barcelona, but a lack of investment in the transfer market could ultimately prove costly in the months ahead. Big decisions will be coming thick and fast for Xavi in 2022, with a significant part of his return based around his profile being big enough to make the difficult calls, but the end of the road could be fast approaching for some of his most decorated former teammates.
‘BARCELONA HAS WOKEN UP LARGE SECTIONS OF AN IRRITATED FAN BASE’ KIERAN TRIPPIER MAY GO Kieran Trippier’s future is up in the air. The Englishman admitted in an interview with the Daily Mail that he’d love to return to the Premier League. The right-back pressed to leave La Liga last summer and return to England amid Manchester United’s interest in his services. Atletico were keen to keep him, however, and the deal didn’t happen in the end. Los Rojiblancos wanted his release clause to be triggered, which would have meant an offer of €40m.
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SOCCER360 JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2022
FAR LEFT: Barcelona's Busquets react after losing the UEFA Champions League Group E soccer match between FC Bayern Muenchen and FC Barcelona ABOVE: FC Barcelona's head coach Xavi Hernandez LEFT: Memphis Depay reacts during a 2021 Champions League match TOP (OPPOSITE PAGE): Real Betis' head coach Manuel Pellegrini attends a Europa League press conference BOTTOM (OPPOSITE PAGE): Alaves' players celebrate
THE REBUILD MAY TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made it clear that Xavi Hernandez will need time to turn things around. It has been a tricky start to life back at Camp Nou for Xavi, who has endured a difficult start to his career as the new Barcelona head coach. Laporta reminded fans that the current issues at Camp Nou, both on and off the field, are not going to be fixed overnight.
