London (dpa)
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said that his team's season would have been disastrous if he had not decided to leave at the end of it.
The British news agency, PA Media, reported that Xavi, 44 years old, announced his departure from the team, after a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal last January, after two and a half years at the helm of the team’s technical management.
Xavi said at the time that his decision would make the players more free, and this was proven true as Barcelona entered into a confrontation with Cadiz on Saturday, after 12 consecutive matches, without defeat in all tournaments, and the last of those matches came against Paris Saint-Germain of France. The Catalan team won 3-2 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Xavi said in a press conference: “When the decision was made, I was sure that things would go this way. If that did not happen, it would be a disaster, and I told the club president that.”
He added: “I discussed the matter in the club, and if I had not decided that, we would not be competing now.”
When asked if he would change his mind about his decision, Xavi replied: “I told you in every press conference that nothing has changed.”
Barcelona occupies second place in the Spanish League standings with 67 points, eight points behind leaders Real Madrid.
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