Complete disappointment. And sadness. Those are the feelings of Barcelona’s board after a brutal week in Europe and then the Clasico.
A double blow, but their confidence in Xavi Hernandez is still intact.
The club expect a rapid reaction in the games that follow, against Villarreal on Thursday and then on Sunday against Athletic Club.
Laporta is very angry. He thinks he’s done all he could to build a competitive team. They have invested more than 200m euros in signings and activated four palancas. The bet on the revolution has been total. But in the decisive moments, results have not followed.
The club think that after the international break the form has dropped and there is no response to it.
Xavi is untouchable because the club think he is the best prepared coach to take on this deep transformation Barca need. But action must be taken.
Those who deserve to play more, should play more. There have to be definitive decisions taken with the captains. And the team must improve in big games.
Laporta knows Xavi is working on all this and will need time for his new project. There have only been 13 games played, nine in La Liga and four in the Champions League, and the season is long.
In the Bernabeu Barcelona lost leadership of the league but not the title. And the hope is that they can find their best level quickly and fight to reign in Spain.
