Barcelona manager Xavi threatens to 'pack his bags' and leave club if players aren't behind him

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has said he will "pack my bags and go home" if he no longer feels that the club's players are behind him amid reports of a dressing room rift.

The reigning Spanish champions have struggled to hit the heights of last season - they sit in fourth place in the La Liga table and are eight points behind surprise leaders Girona, while they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.

There were reports which claimed that Xavi had already struggled to keep some players onside even before the defeat to their Clasico rivals.

Speaking ahead of Barca's Copa del Rey tie against third-tier side Unionistas de Salamanca, Xavi was in defiant mood and said he could step away if he didn't feel the backing of the club.

"The day my players no longer follow me, I'll pack my bags and leave," Xavi told a press conference on Wednesday.

"If I hadn't won La Liga last year I wouldn't be here. When someone tells me there's a problem, I'll leave."

After enjoying a trophy-laden time at the Camp Nou as a player, including eight league titles and four Champions League trophies, Xavi returned to Barcelona to replace Ronald Koeman as head coach in November 2021.

During his first full season at the club, Xavi led Barcelona to their first league title in four years and they only conceded 20 goals throughout the 2022/23 La Liga campaign.

However, Barca have already conceded 22 goals at the halfway stage of this season and didn't overly impress as they progressed into the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign.

Xavi was keen to point out his success last season and believes it won't take too long before Barca turn things around.

"In my first season, the objective was to finish in the top four; we came second," he added. "Last year, it was to win LaLiga; we won it. This year, it is to win a trophy.

"We have lost the Super Cup and I apologised for the manner of the performance, but we still have three trophies to play for. If we don't meet objectives, I will be the first to go.

"Madrid were in our position last year and they turned things around and won the Copa. When I was in Qatar and Barca came to appoint me, they told me the club was in one of the worst moments in its history. We are revitalising [the club].

"We are closer to success than defeat. I understand the criticism, I know where I am, but I have the same desire as day one. I will never be a problem for Barca. The moment they say I am a problem, I will be gone.

"Above all, I am a fan. I love this club. I will never be a problem, the president [Joan Laporta], Deco [sporting director], the players... Everyone knows that."

Following their Copa del Rey tie, Barcelona return to league action on Sunday when they travel to Real Betis.

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