Joan Laporta publicly backs Xavi after Champions League exit
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has given Xavi a public vote of confidence after the Blaugrana crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages.
The Catalan giants will be playing Europa League football for the second season running after Inter Milan’s 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen ended their wafer-thin hopes of a knockout berth in Group C.
Barcelona needed the Czech side to pull off a shock win over the Nerazzurri before they took to the field against Bayern Munich, but their fate was sealed before they kicked off at Camp Nou.
In any case, the Blaugrana were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by the German champions and are guaranteed to finish third in the group, having taken just four points from five games.
Xavi’s men have gone winless in four Champions League games since beating Viktoria Plzen 5-1 in the opening matchweek, and they now face a dead rubber away to the Czech champions next week.
Barcelona will aim to push their European disappointment to one side when they return to La Liga action against Valencia on Saturday, with Real Madrid currently three points clear of Xavi’s men at the top of the table.
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