Barcelona concluded the 2023/24 football season on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Sevilla, securing the second-place position in the league.
Over the season, they accumulated 26 wins, seven draws, and five losses. This impressive performance resulted in a total of 85 points, which happens to be the second-highest in the past five years for the club.
The only season that surpassed this tally was the previous one, where Barcelona, under the same manager, Xavi, managed to earn 88 points.
During the past five years, Barcelona have seen three different managers at the helm: Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setien, and Ronald Koeman.
Interestingly, Valverde and Setien only managed the team for about six months each. Under Koeman’s leadership, Barcelona finished the 2020/21 season in third place with 79 points.
In comparison, Xavi has proven to be the most successful manager over these five years, at least statistically.
Xavi deserve more credit
Xavi has been in charge of Barcelona for 142 games across all competitions, maintaining an average of just over two points per game.
His achievements are even more commendable given the significant financial challenges the club has faced during his tenure.
Unlike the eras of Pep Guardiola or Luis Enrique, Xavi has had to navigate a period of stringent financial restrictions. This is evident when looking at the club’s spending on player transfers under each manager.
In terms of financial support, Valverde and Enrique had much more backing for player acquisitions compared to Xavi.
Despite not being at the peak of their powers, Barcelona under Xavi has shown remarkable resilience and competitiveness.
Winning one La Liga title and coming close to reaching the Champions League semi-finals are significant accomplishments, especially considering the financial constraints the club is under.
Xavi’s ability to lead Barcelona to these heights, despite the limitations, speaks volumes about his managerial skills. He has maximised the potential of his squad, especially the young player, while managing to compete at the highest level against teams with fewer financial issues.
For what it is worth, his tenure brought a sense of progress, suggesting a bright future for the club if they can navigate their financial challenges successfully.
