Under mounting pressure, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has declared that he would step down if his squad no longer believed in his leadership, following their significant defeat to Real Madrid.

Barcelona suffered a 4-1 defeat against Madrid, leaving them eight points behind league leaders Girona in the LaLiga table. The team’s defensive struggles this season stand in stark contrast to their success in the previous Liga campaign, having already conceded 22 goals at the halfway point, compared to 20 in the entire 2022-23 season.

Xavi expressed his commitment to the team, stating, “The day my players no longer follow me, I’ll pack my bags and leave. If I hadn’t won LaLiga last year, I wouldn’t be here. I love this club. Hernandez states that he stays with the club to bring something great.

Returning to the Spanish champions in 2021 after managing Al Sadd, Xavi faced a challenging situation with Barcelona in decline. The upcoming challenges for Barcelona include a match against third-tier Unionistas in the Spanish Cup’s last 16 on Thursday, followed by a clash against Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League’s same stage in February.

Reflecting on his arrival during a difficult period, Xavi stated, “When the owners signed me from Qatar, they said it was one of the worst moments in the club’s history. I think we’re closer to success than failure,” added the former midfielder.