Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez to step down

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez announced on Saturday that he would step down at the end of June (the end of the season), reported Xinhua.

Xavi made the remarks in the wake of his side's 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal, which leaves them 10 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga.

"I have given everything and I will continue to do so these four months so that the fans feel proud," said Xavi at the post-game press conference in which he highlighted the "spectacular" group of players at the club, but also admitted the pressure of working at the club was hard to deal with.

Saturday's defeat came just three days after his side was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Club Bilbao and two weeks after they lost the Spanish Super Cup final 4-1 to Real Madrid.

"The feeling of being a Barca coach is unpleasant, it is cruel, you feel that they disrespect you many times; that your work is not valued and it is a terrible drain on mental health and mood," said Xavi.

"I am a very positive guy but the energy is going down to the point that you say that it makes no sense to continue," he added.

Xavi, who spent 17 years in the Barca first team as a player, returned to the club as coach to replace Ronald Koeman in November 2021 with the club struggling in La Liga.

Barca turned things around domestically to assure a top-four finish, but failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Last season saw Xavi lead Barca to the La Liga title and the Super Cup, but they once again failed to get past the Champions League group stage, meaning an important blow to the club's already delicate economy.

Although Xavi insisted that the team was still a work in progress, this season saw them take a step backwards, with defensive frailties and sluggish play in attack, which put Xavi under increasing criticism.

"It has happened to all the coaches who have passed through here," Xavi told the press insisting the club needed to "change the dynamics," which saw continual changes in the dugout.

"We have to change directions and dynamics and now is the time. I am moved by my heart and when nothing makes sense it is time to act and make decisions," he added, insisting that he would always be a Barca fan.