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Press reports revealed the most prominent candidate to succeed Xavi Hernandez in the leadership of Barcelona, especially after the bitter exit from the Champions League with a loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Kylian Mbappe succeeded in helping Paris Saint-Germain achieve a historic remontada at the Montjuïc stadium, despite Barcelona leading by a clean goal, but after the Frenchman scored two goals, the score became 4-1 in the end.
Xavi had announced early on his departure from Barcelona at the end of the season, and multiple reports claimed that the Spanish club’s management was trying to pressure the coach to stay with the team for an additional season, but European exclusion made the management change its position.
“Sport” newspaper said in a report today, Wednesday: “Barcelona’s exclusion from the Champions League will accelerate planning for next season. The administration believes that the time has come to make decisive decisions.”
The report added: “The idea of both the administration and the sporting director is to determine the technical director’s seat for the next project after El Clasico this week against Real Madrid. The fight for the league will be fought until the end, but the time has come to make decisions, and the idea of Xavi continuing has ended, while gaining the nomination.” “Rafael Marquez, the club’s youth team coach, has created internal momentum.”
“Sport” indicated: “Barcelona’s idea was to wait until the end, taking into account the team’s reaction. The management was really impressed with the management of the past two months, and club president Joan Laporta aspired to achieve something big this season and try to convince Xavi Hernandez that it was the best decision for Barcelona.” “It is his continuation, and Laporta is still convinced that Xavi is the ideal figure for the future of the team, but the coach has closed this door.”
The report stressed: “The exclusion from the Champions League was a sporting, economic and, above all, emotional blow, because there was a belief that they were able to reach the semi-finals and even the final with the level of play that Barcelona has shown recently, but now it will be re-energized.” Searching for a new coach.
The report concluded: “The name of Rafael Marquez has emerged strongly, who performed very well with the club’s youth team, and the management’s belief is increasing that he is ready to take on the challenge, and his choice has become almost a priority. He has also trained the young talents who will lead Barcelona in the future, and at the present time, he is “The best coach to lead the next stage, unless there is a surprise at the last minute.”
As Radio RAC1 said: “Rafa Marquez is currently the strongest name to succeed Xavi. The club appreciates his work in the reserve, but so far the final decision has not been made.”