sport news Why Xavi's long Barcelona goodbye could be cut short if Real Madrid humble them ... trends now
The end is nigh for Xavi. It could even come on Sunday night if Barcelona lose the Clasico and slip 11 points behind Real Madrid.
A defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu would leave Barça with a six-game run-in and only second place to play for.
They need to finish second for the €5million [£4.27m] they will earn from the Spanish Super Cup, but chasing runners-up positions is not what the club is about and May will be a long month mainly spent speculating over who the new manager will be.
Circumstances beyond his control were, in part, his undoing on Tuesday night.
Ronald Araujo's red card made things very difficult for Barcelona but his decision to take off Barça's most dangerous forward, the 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, and the fact that he then got sent off – his third red as Barça coach – opened the floodgates back up to wave after wave of 'he's out of his depth' criticism.
Xavi imploded on the touchline as Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League to PSG
It was a chastening night for Barcelona, who saw their chances of European glory dashed
Raphinha extended Barca's 3-2 first leg advantage before they capitulated on Tuesday night
'Barcelona will try to win the competition next season,' he said after the game clearly distancing himself from the whispers prior to the game, that have now completely disappeared, that he might stay in charge next season going back on the decision, made with the club, to quit this summer.
The cracks in the group began to appear after the defeat to PSG. Xavi blamed the referee while his senior players blamed each other.
'The referee is very very bad,' said Xavi. But Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said of the red card: 'It's one of those decisions that can be made.'
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan went further saying of Ronald Araujo: 'You have to be clear that you will get to the ball. If not, then give our goalkeeper a chance. So many minutes with ten killed us.'
In many respects it
