Ben Hayward Profile picture
Nov 1 7 tweets 5 min read
There seem to be a lot of people in the media and also on here who are keen to label Xavi a ‘failure’ after #Barça missed out on #UCL last 16. I think it’s unfair and I think it's wrong. It's also part of a growing trend we have seen in recent years...
It’s the idea that only #UCL matters. Or that it matters much more than anything else.

Examples:

Guardiola dubbed a ‘failure’ despite winning everything except CL

Ernesto Valverde’s achievements completely discredited because of a couple of bad CL nights
The same thing is happening with Xavi now. And yes, dropping down from #UCL to Europa League is not a success for #Barça. Clearly. But it was a very tough group. Some decisions did go against them. And FCB remain a work in progress. And that's OK.
So is Xavi a failure? No. #Barça are a point behind #RealMadrid in #LaLiga. He has been there for the equivalent of a full season and won 87 points in that time: 38 games, 27 wins, six draws, five defeats. Real Madrid won LaLiga last season with 86 points.
#Barça may go on to win #LaLiga this season. Or not. But those numbers show Xavi's side are competitive, even if results in Europe have been disappointing. In fact, they are comparable with Pep Guardiola's first season – and he's Barça's best-ever coach... Image
Not only #UCL is important – however many times RM win it. Of course European Cup has prestige and glamour, but winning a league often has just as much merit and #Barça may yet do that. So let’s not call Xavi a failure. And let’s not value only UCL.
Obviously #RealMadrid won both last season in an amazing campaign. No doubt Los Blancos are ahead of #Barça right now, but FCB are getting closer. And at the root of the 'Xavi's a failure' stuff is probably some fear that he will take them back to the top...

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More from @bghayward

May 27, 2021
Déjà vu with Zidane. The Frenchman walks away again and like last time, he seems tired; feeling that he has taken this team as far as he can... #RealMadrid
Zidane's second spell at #RealMadrid ends with two trophies in just over two years: Supercopa and LaLiga last season.

It is nowhere near the spectacular success he enjoyed first time around, when he won nine trophies (including three successive CL titles).
Zidane did #RealMadrid a big favour by returning in 2019, lifting the mood after Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari were both sacked in a troublesome season.

But RM squad looked tired, old. And with Cristiano Ronaldo also having left, cracks appeared.
Read 12 tweets
Aug 26, 2020
Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club this summer. But how did it come to this? A thread…

#MessiLeavingBarça #FCB
Messi has been frustrated at Barça for some time. The club’s record in Champions League since winning the treble in 2014-15 has not been good enough and after winning the competition three times in seven seasons, FCB have not won it since. #MessiLeavingBarça
Treble was won largely thanks to Messi, Suarez & Neymar, described by Luis Enrique as ‘best trident in football history’.

Xavi, Iniesta & Dani Alves were also still at Barça.

Xavi left in 2015, Alves 2016, Neymar 2017, Iniesta 2018. None properly replaced.
Read 22 tweets
Jan 16, 2020
Seven days have passed since Barcelona lost to Atlético in the Supercopa, a match which would turn out to be Ernesto Valverde’s last as coach of the Catalan club.

Some thoughts here on Valverde, Xavi, Quique Setién and a crazy week at Barça...

#FCBlive
First of all, Valverde had been on borrowed time for a while. Lots on here have been saying he should have resigned. I’m sorry, no coach thinks that way. It was down to the board to act in the summer. After Anfield and the Copa final, it was time...

#FCBlive
But, inexplicably, they did not. Valverde was backed and ever since, Barça have been going through the motions. Getting through games. Often doing just enough. Sometimes not even that. Poor performances on the road. Even at home.

#FCBlive
Read 21 tweets

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