It has happened and well a lot of Barca faithfuls have been calling for this.
Ronald Koeman has now been relieved of his coaching duties at Barcelona. The club couldn't just take it any longer following the defeat to Rayo Vallecano last night and same night, club President, Joan Laporta informed Koeman that his services are no longer needed. That defeat to Rayo leaves Barca ninth in the La Liga table and it can be recalled that they won only four of their first ten league games this season. Now this is not to mention the Champions league this season where they have also heavily struggled.
The club has released a statement which states that Ronald Koeman will say his officially good-bye today as is the usually way things like this go.
Well it's been a tough season for Koeman, as results suffered. Last season he seemed to steady the Barca ship and many thought that he will kick on from there, but after this 1–0 loss to Rayo, immediately following the 2– 1 El Classico defeat to Real at the weekend, the Barca board has clearly seen enough of him and his reign. So in 67 games overall at Barca, Koeman oversaw 40 wins,11 draws and 16 defeats.
What's next? A certain,Xavier Hernández Creus is the name we hear. Okay he is the popular Xavi, I guess you know him, the former midfield metronome and legend of Barça,who is doing amazing things as a coach with his current club(Al Sadd of Saudi Arabia) - for example he has just won his 7th managerial title with his club in only 2 years being in charge. The striking thing is how Xavi gets the team to play how he exactly wants and in consistent fashion. He is undefeated in the league for 594 days. The flip side is that Al Sadd already were a successful team before Xavi's arrival, infact they have been less successful in the continent since Xavi's arrival– whereas they have won two Asian Champions league crowns,but since Xavi's arrival,they have barely even reached the sem-final of same competition.
I guess his being a true Blaugarian and the fact that he is able to almost effortlessly impose his Barça heritage, a certain obsession he has for possession football, on his current team must be an attraction for Club President Joan Laporta.
Goal.com exclusively reveals that Mr Xavi has been offered the job to lead Barça going forward, infact trusted transfer guru, Fabrizio says contact with Xavi had begun weeks back and discussions will continue today. An interim coach may be needed in the mean time.
I think Barça faithfuls won't mind a Xavi return, at this point.
Cheers
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