XAVI & TEN HAG ON SAME SITUATION

 

Barca Makes Huge U-Turn

Barca President Joan Laporta has confirmed that Xavi Hernandez,44 has been released from him Managerial Duties, before his contract expires in 2025.

The decision came just two weeks after the decision to continue with Xavi as head coach, as because Laporta was facing to find a replacement of current manager.

But they didn’t face much problem like Bayern, Chelsea and Man Utd as they got their replacement with Ex Bayern boss Hansi Flick, who last managed the German National Team but was sacked due to disappointing performance in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and Friendlies fixtures.

The contract has been completed, managed and now approved by his agent Pini Zahavi on a two-year level with a contract until 2026. Flick will bring two German assistants as part of his staff at Barcelona with signatures being sorted. 

After departure news Xavi has written a letter to Barca Fans:

“Dear friends, Sunday my stage on the bench of Barca will end. It’s never easy to leave the club of your life, but I’m very proud, after two and a half years at the head of a dressing room that has been like a second family.”

“I want to thank the fans for the support and affection, who have always been by my side and have shown me the love at all times as in my footballing stage.”

“From Sunday so I will be one more fan in the stands, either now at the Olympic Stadium or in a few months at the New Camp Nou. Because before I was a player or a coach, I am a Barcelona fan and I only want the best for the club of my life.”

“Worked with a great group of players and an awesome staff. Thanks to all of them we have been achieving the proposed objectives, also culminating last year with League and a Super Cup”

“This season things haven’t gone as we wanted but we’ve let it go and helped grow new generation of young footballers from La Masia that inspire all fans.”

“Thank you very much to all. To the fans, the players, the staff, the club employees, the President the Board of Directors, the sporting directors, the media and everyone with whom I have shared the journey over these two and half seasons.”

“I wish the best to the club that I carry in my heart. Long live Barca, I will always be your supporter.”

Is Hansi Flick the correct choice?

The 59-year-old has been free agent since was sacked by Germany in September 2023.

Flick, who replaced Joachim Low as national boss in 2021, became the first German Manager to be sacked since the role was created in 1926, winning just 12 of his 25 matches in charge.

Flick’s stint with Germany came after he guided FC Bayern to a treble in 2020, winning Bundesliga Title, DFB-Pokal and Champions League.

Poland National team Captain Robert Lewandowski, 35, has played under Flick at the Allianz Arena for two seasons.

During his tenure at Bayern, Flick developed the name ‘Flicki-Flaka’ in the media to characterize the mixed gegenpressing and possession-based style of football the team played. Flick consistently deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation at Bayern Munich featuring a high defensive line that encourages their double pivot and full-backs to adopt positions where they can press the ball as it approaches the midfield third, and to screen and block against switches of play.

Another tactic that Flick uses to create space on one side is to begin the play on one side of the field and gradually draw opposition to shift to the ball side.

While in charge of the Germany National team, Flick experimented fielding a back three system with indifferent levels.

And the tactics discussed above doesn’t match with tactics of Xavi as he preferred to Barca style of play. He most tries to form a Box-To-Box Midfield where a Center Back inverts into Midfield position. Due to this the players are being aggressive without the ball.

Xavi usually want his team to go man to man and intensity press the opposition. They almost use their high press as an attacking threat, scoring many goals from winning the ball in their high press.

And of course, Flick will have a major problem of signing his preferred player, as Barca still faces financial crisis and have they still had 552 million as net debt which must be cleared before 2032.

The only way Flick can get his signing is by sales of key players like Ronald Araujo, Frenkie De Jong.

But until then let’s hope for best for both Hansi Flick and Barcelona.

Is Laporta Using Xavi as Scapegoat?

No Barca fan would have expected to leave Xavi after a successful between him and the board. Xavi had told in a press conference that he has changed his decision to leave Barca and would like to co-operate with Laporta, Deco and all board members.

Everything was going well and they all were planning for next year to make current project more progressive and effective. Also, Laporta had ensured that the board will try its best to ensure that Xavi gets his preferred signings.

But things changed when Xavi said that this is not the Barca that I used to play for, specially in terms of signings. He also admitted the current financial situation in the club will not going to help him to sign expensive players. He gave this interview during Pre-match conference against Almeria.

And shortly after this, reports came Laporta is ‘Angered’ by the views of Xavi towards the club. Internal rumors tell us that Laporta believed that Xavi is trying to spread ‘Fake News’ that club is in financial crisis. And from that day he was considering ways to sack Xavi.

According to my view, Laporta thought that if he supports Xavi and convince him to stay, he would support Laporta in every situation. Despite the club being called a ‘Circus’ we can solve this problem and also Laporta will win the next presidential election of Barca.

But now things look messier as there are no signs that the club’s economic problems have solved and there is no major improvement in the club’s situation.

At last, let’s not forgot that it was Xavi who brought this club from 9^th position to 2^nd position in his first season at in charge. He helped the club to win the LaLiga title in 2023 and Supercopa de Espana. Yeah, this was not the season all Culers expected but Xavi doesn’t deserve this type of Farewell.

Well, ALL THE BEST XAVI for your future projects.

Next turn Erik Ten Hag?

Two days back the news broke out that Manchester United have decided to sack Erik Ten Hag after the FA Cup Final against Manchester City.

Despite being a season full of injuries Ten Hag somehow managed to reach the FA Cup final in the consecutive years but finished 8^th in Premier League and Last in the Champions’ League Group stage. And now the only hope is FA Cup and if they will it, they will qualify for the Europa League next season, which is the only way to qualify for European coemptions.

The INEOS takeover has right to take the sporting related decision for the club and they are using this power to ensure that club don’t make further losses in signing expensive players than to make effective signings.

For this the first step is solving the managerial problem for this club. After the Post Sir Alex Ferguson era the managerial post for Man Utd has become a joke. The board doesn’t have patience towards the Managers they appoint also if they give you a European success. They didn’t trust the ongoing project led by a manager and when results arrive below the expectation, the managers were sacked.

But this attitude changed after the appointment of Erik Ten Hag, who was managing Dutch side Ajax. Many experts considered it as a bold move for Utd as Ten Hag had already shown capabilities with ‘de Godenzonen (Ajax)’. His famous line “Era’s come to an end” made us realize that Utd could surprise us.

He led the club to win Carabao Cup in his first season also finishing 3^rd in Premier League and reaching Semi Final in Europa League, also reaching the Final of FA Cup against their local rivals Man City.

Due to this Ten Hag was backed for the next season and the board provide his favored signings like Andre Onana, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund etc.

But as we can see the current season went poor and not only poor but this is one of the worst seasons ever by Man Utd finishing 8^th in Premier League.

Successor for Manchester United?

The board is discussing several names like Kieran Mckenna and Thomas Tuchel.

But as per latest news Kieran Mckenna is leading the race along with Chelsea to hijack the deal.

The Ipswich Town Manager has manager has a release clause for around 5 million euros and has done an excellent job with the club, securing them a position in premier league.

Also, he has worked with Michael Carrick in Manchester United Under 18. During this tenure he has worked under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Lets hope for that clubs managerial problem is solved.