Journalist Oscar Pereiro has criticized Barcelona manager Xavi, saying that all he does is give excuses in the press conference.
“XAVI’s only style is EXCUSES at a press conference,” said Pereiro on El Chiringuito TV.
Xavi will remain as the coach of Barcelona with the backing of the club’s management. He is known as one of the most divisive coaches, receiving mixed opinions from various stakeholders.
Although he secured the league title last season, this year has been less successful, falling short of expectations both in terms of trophies won and the overall quality of play.
Is Pereiro right about Xavi?
Pereiro’s criticism suggests that Xavi tends to deflect responsibility for the team’s shortcomings, opting instead to explain away issues rather than offering solutions or acknowledging mistakes.
This critique may reflect the journalist’s frustration with the manager’s approach to handling post-match situations or discussing the team’s performance in general.
During his time as the manager, Xavi has expressed his dissatisfaction with various factors that have affected his team’s performance.
He has voiced concerns about the playing conditions, specifically the quality of the grass on the field, which he felt was subpar.
Additionally, Xavi has been critical of the scheduling of matches, particularly when his team is required to play at inconvenient times.
In April 2023, Xavi openly criticized the pitch at Getafe, expressing his frustration with its state and suggesting it played a role in his team’s inability to secure a win.
Furthermore, he was displeased with the scheduling of the match, as the afternoon kickoff seemed to have disrupted his team’s rhythm. These factors contributed to his team’s struggle in a game that ended in a goalless draw.
But there are some positives too
Despite the team not achieving its goals, Xavi has made sure that his Barcelona squad has shown noticeable improvement since he declared in January that he would step down at the end of the year.
From this vantage point, the statistics support his claim: his players have displayed increased engagement and effort in their matches.
However, in several games, their intensity diminished as the minutes progressed, leading to their defeat.
Ultimately, while there has been noticeable progress, sustaining a consistently high level of performance remains a hurdle that the team needs to overcome to achieve their goals; something that the manager will try to overcome next season.
