By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
Xavi Hernandez‘s tenure as Barcelona manager concluded with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Sevilla in the final La Liga match of the season. The win, marked by Fermin Lopez’s decisive goal, was a bittersweet end for the departing boss, who was informed on Friday of his impending dismissal.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barcelona, giving the visitors an early lead. Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri equalized, but Lopez’s late winner ensured that Barcelona ended their season on a high note. Lopez celebrated his goal by running to embrace Xavi, a gesture of respect for the departing coach.
Despite the win, Barcelona had already secured second place in La Liga, finishing behind champions Real Madrid. Sevilla ended their season in 14th place.
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Xavi, a former Spain midfielder and Barcelona legend, had initially announced his intention to leave the club in January. However, club president Joan Laporta persuaded him to stay in April. In a recent meeting with Laporta and sporting director Deco, Xavi was informed that his time at the club would be coming to an end, just one month after the announcement of his extended stay.
Former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick is set to take over the reins at Barcelona.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Xavi, who won four Champions League titles as a player, expressed mixed emotions. He highlighted the achievements under his leadership, including securing Barcelona’s only La Liga title in the past five seasons last year.
“I don’t think the work has been appreciated enough,” Xavi remarked after Sunday’s game. “A double last year [La Liga and Super Cup], and this year we haven’t been up to the task because of details. I leave with some mixed feelings because the work is positive even though we didn’t win the titles this season. I think we were on the right track and I still think so.”
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen praised Xavi’s efforts and the impact he had on the team. “Xavi has always given us a lot. He worked every day so that we could succeed. On a personal level, he’s been a friend for many years and it’s never easy to let him go.”
As Xavi steps away from the Nou Camp, his legacy as both a player and manager remains a significant chapter in Barcelona’s storied history.
