Exasperated Xavi calls it quits, announces end-of-season exit
BARCELONA, Spain — Xavi Hernandez said enough was enough after Barcelona, again, fell apart, suffering a 5-3 home loss to Villarreal on Saturday — a defeat that left it 10 points behind Real Madrid in the Spanish league.
Just moments after the stinging loss, Xavi said that he would not continue next season as the coach of the club that, as one of the finest midfielders to play the game, he once led on the pitch.
In one of the wildest games of the season, Villarreal was up 2-0, then Barcelona roared back with three quick-fire goals to take a 3-2 lead in the 72nd minute.
But Barcelona’s defense again let it down, and new Villarreal arrival Goncalo Guedes leveled on a counterattack in the 84th. Striker Alexander Sorloth, who also set up two goals, then found the winner in stoppage time, before Jose Morales added to Barcelona’s misery.
“As Barcelona fan, I can’t allow this situation to continue, we need a change of course and of dynamics,” said Xavi, who added that he had made the decision before the loss.
Barcelona was trying to bounce back from its elimination from the Copa del Rey at Athletic Bilbao last week. Instead, its La Liga loss to an erratic Villarreal only added more pressure to the beleaguered Xavi.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, without top scorer Jude Bellingham, rallied to win at Las Palmas 2-1 and reclaim the league lead.
“This is a huge blow,” Xavi said. “We lost this game because of our mistakes. Today is difficult to digest for me as a coach, but also for my players, who are all feeling really bad.
“We did the hardest part which was to turn it around, and we even had more chances to score, but that was when our problems started. We are paying a heavy price for our mistakes this season.”
Defensive failings
Gerard Moreno opened the scoring near halftime, connecting with a pass from Sorloth. Former Barcelona youth player Ilias Akhomach took full advantage of horrible control by Joao Cancelo, who came on at halftime, to double the advantage.
Ilkay Gundogan pulled one back for Barcelona in the 60th minute. Substitute Pedri Gonzalez snatched a second, before an own goal by Eric Bailly put the host ahead.
Sorloth launched Guedes down the flank to beat goalkeeper Inaki Pena from an angle to make it 3-3. The Norway striker put Villarreal back in front after Barcelona failed to clear the ball from its area.
“If you are losing by two goals and then go up 3-2, you cannot give it away and lose like that,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong said. “This cannot happen to an elite team.”
Cancelo, like De Jong, backed Xavi and tried to take the blame as players.
“It truly was a disaster,” Cancelo said. “Those were the worst 45 minutes of my career.”
Barcelona’s defense, which is missing injured goalkeeper MarcAndre ter Stegen, has fallen apart in January.
Barcelona was crushed by Madrid 4-1 in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, and on Wednesday it conceded twice in extra time to lose at Bilbao 4-2.
Madrid rallies
Vinicius Junior and Aurelien Tchouameni scored second-half goals for Madrid in the Canary Islands.
After a first half stalemate between the league’s top defenses, midfielder Javi Munoz put Las Palmas ahead in the 53rd minute, receiving a pass from Sandro Ramirez.
“We played a good first half against a great rival,” Munoz said. “But, when we went ahead, they took a step forward and we took a step back.”
Vinicius Junior leveled the score in the 66th minute after a nice assist by Eduardo Camavinga.
Tchouameni then came on as a late substitute and powered in a header with six minutes to play to complete the turnaround.
“We played well enough,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We were going up against a team that holds the ball well and doesn’t concede much.
“We had designed a game plan to control the first half and then press forward in the second. It is an important victory.”
Madrid moved two points ahead of Girona prior to its visit to Celta Vigo on Sunday. Madrid also has an extra game to play.