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La Liga: Xavi to remain as Barcelona coach till June 2025

02:10 AM Apr 26, 2024 IST | IANS
la liga  xavi to remain as barcelona coach till june 2025
X/ @FCBarcelona
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Madrid (Spain), Apr 25:  FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has reversed his decision to step down as first-team coach at the end of the current season and will now see out his contract until the end of June 2025. Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste confirmed the news late on Wednesday night outside the home of the club's president Joan Laporta following a meeting with Xavi.

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"Xavi will stay, he's really happy and excited," Yuste told waiting journalists, before insisting the club had "never opened talks with any other coach."

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Earlier on Wednesday, Xavi held face-to-face talks with Laporta and Barcelona's sporting director Deco in which he indicated he had changed his mind about the decision he made in January, reports Xinhua.

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Xavi stunned Barcelona when he commented after a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal that he would step down at the end of this season. He said one reason for his decision was to try and spark a reaction in his squad, while also talking about the pressures of the job at FC Barcelona.

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Xavi said the club needs a "change of direction," and said he felt there was "a lack of respect, you feel that your work is not appreciated."

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The coach's announcement saw a slight upturn in form, with the club moving into second place in La Liga and reaching the quarterfinals in the UEFA Champions League, before being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain.

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Although the 4-1 defeat in the second leg was a big disappointment, the team did fulfil the club's budget requirements by reaching the last-eight stage.

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Barcelona reportedly had several candidates to replace Xavi, including B-team coach Rafael Marquez, who has helped nurture young talents such as Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.

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