Barcelona are going through a rough patch recently, which originated from their disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid.
Since then, the club went on to secure a narrow 1-0 win over Real Sociedad, which was followed by a 1-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona’s recent run has put pressure on Xavi Hernandez, especially as the club failed to secure a berth in the knockout rounds this midweek.
Laporta retains faith in Xavi
One of the highlights of the Shakhtar game in midweek was the absence of Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
However, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, Laporta had called Xavi shortly after the game and conveyed maximum confidence to the Barça coach.
Xavi was quite grateful for the support from Laporta, especially after Barcelona suffered their first setback in the Champions League against Shakhtar.
Due to medical advice, Laporta was unable to go to Hamburg. He couldn’t even go 1,800 kilometers by rail.
But he made it a point to tell Xavi immediately after the result that he still believes in the club legend.
Xavi is about to enter a critical period.
Despite Laporta’s trust in Xavi despite recent defeats, the Barcelona coach is facing a critical period ahead.
The forthcoming game against Deportivo Alaves, the last game before the international break, will put Barça to the test.
Following the break, Barcelona has difficult tests against Rayo Vallecano, FC Porto, and Atletico Madrid, with the last being the most dangerous match for the Catalans.
If Xavi wants to bring Barça back to winning ways, he must make the most of the international break and rebuild synergy among his group.