Copa Del Ray: Athletic Club knocks Barcelona out to reach semis
It was another disappointment for Barcelona, as the club was expecting to go to the Copa del Rey semifinals for the second straight season.
Former Barcelona footballer Xavi is all set to replace Ernesto Valverde as the club’s next manager as the Catalan giants have decided to end the current manager’s tenure.
According to a report on Goal, Xavi, who currently manages at the Qatari club Al-Sadd, could be revealed as the boss at Camp Nou either in the coming days or at the end of the ongoing season. However, no public announcement is expected before his current club play in the final of the Qatar Cup on January 17.
The former Spanish international has been in talks in recent days with the FC Barcelona general director Oscar Grau and technical secretary Eric Abidal.
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As the speculations get rife with each passing day, Xavi was asked about the top job at Barca after Al-Sadd’s 4-1 Qatar Cup semifinal victory over Al-Rayyan on Saturday. The legendary midfielder did not shy away from the question and said coaching Barcelona is his “dream”.
“I cannot hide it, that is my dream. It is my dream to coach Barcelona, I have said it many times in many interviews. Everybody knows that I support Barcelona from the bottom of my heart, so yes, it’s one of my dreams but I’m focused on Al-Sadd,” Xavi was quoted as saying by Goal.
The World Cup-winner with Spain also accepted that he has been meeting with the technical secretary of FC Barcelona but said that at the moment he is focusing on the upcoming final of the Qatari competition.
“Yes, Abidal is my friend. I’ve met him many times, so I cannot say anything, just that I respect Barcelona, I respect Valverde, I respect my club. I’m doing my job here, I’m doing my best,” Xavi said.
“I’m focused today on the semi-final, and now we play the final so I’m very happy, I’m very happy to coach Al-Sadd. I cannot say anything else,” he added.
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