Barcelona faced a devastating defeat in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, with a final score of 4-1. Xavi, the Barcelona manager, publicly criticized the referee’s decisions, calling him a “disaster” and blaming one key decision for ending their season’s work. The Catalans entered the second leg with a 3-2 advantage but quickly fell behind as the MVP of the previous game, Raphinha, scored within the first 15 minutes, putting PSG in the lead.
The turning point of the match came when Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo was red-carded for a tackle, leaving Barcelona with only 10 players on the field. Xavi vehemently disagreed with the referee’s decision and expressed his frustration in a post-match interview. Despite their efforts, Barcelona struggled to keep up with PSG after the red card and eventually lost the match. Xavi’s frustration with the referee’s decisions led to him getting sent off as well for dissent.
Xavi explained his tactical decisions during the match, including substituting Lamine Yamal for Pedri after Araujo was dismissed. Despite having clear chances to tie the match, Barcelona found it difficult to compete with only 10 players on the field. Xavi emphasized the impact of the referee’s decision on the outcome of the match and expressed his disappointment with how it affected the team’s season.
As Barcelona’s manager, Xavi has announced that he will step down from his position on June 30. However, there have been speculations that he might stay on as the manager for the next season. Xavi, known for his loyalty to the club, preferred not to discuss his future plans and instead focused on Barcelona’s future in the Champions League. He praised the team’s efforts throughout the campaign and expressed confidence that they would return stronger next season.
Despite the defeat, Xavi remains optimistic about Barcelona’s future in the Champions League and believes that they have the potential to improve in the upcoming seasons. He highlighted the need to control certain aspects of the team’s performance and build on their strengths for future competitions. Xavi’s dedication to the club and his determination to succeed in the Champions League are evident in his post-match comments, indicating that Barcelona will continue to strive for success under his leadership.
