Xavi’s continuous European failure could leave Barcelona with a tough choice to make

For the second season running, Barcelona have been eliminated from the Champions League group stage and followed it up with another elimination from the Europa League.

Last season also appeared better than this season albeit the club has invested millions just to see their manager thrive in the competition with other heavyweights in Europe but again and again, their legendary midfielder has come short.

Inability to better Inter Milan over two legs costed them a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League and to make matters worse, he achieved another low of becoming the first Barcelona manager to lose a game to Manchester United since 2008.

25 per cent winning rate in 16 European games is not good enough for a top manager and to think the wins have come against teams like Viktoria Plzen twice, Napoli of last season and Galatasaray.

It is obvious that Xavi still has a lot to put right to have this team compete in Europe as much as they've been doing in the league, where they've lost only one game and conceded seven goals 22 games into the season.

Where they are eight points clear of Real Madrid and their goalkeeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen has kept 17 clean sheets, the most in Europe top five leagues this season.

Also in other domestic competitions, they've been firing on all cylinders. Winning the Super Cup and reaching the last four of the Copa del Rey, where they've been drawn against Real Madrid over two legs.

They've made up for their loss to Los Blancos in the league by comfortably beating them by the same scoreline in the final of the Super Cup hence it remains a mystery why the same side become unrecognizable when they play in Europe.

Their continuous early elimination will have an impact on their finance and how much they can spend on signings and wages, as this is part of the aspects considered in the salary cap.

Barcelona president, Joan Laporta has continuously voiced his support for Xavi as the manager of the club and it is undeniable that the former Al Sadd boss has improved the situation at the club compared to when he arrived late in 2021.

However, it is also kind to recall that the club has backed and support him throughout his time at the club by spending what they literally don't have just to ensure that the excuse of lack of investment is out of it.

Xavi' league record is as good as any of the managers Barcelona have had in the past. Even threatening that of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique but nothing seems to be going their way, individually and collectively in Europe.

Robert Lewandowski, one of the best players in the world at the time he was signed from Bayern Munich is easily the top of the gift of new signings made to help Xavi at the club.

The striker has scored 25 goals in 30 appearances for the club already, but just like the overall performance of the club, his good moments have only come in domestic competitions, aside a hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen in their first Champions League game of the season.

He was only able to add three more goals in six more appearances in Europe, all which amounted to nothing as two earned a draw at home to Inter, while one came from the penalty spot in a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford.

Raphinha, Franck Kessie, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen all joined from notable clubs in the summer and even if Pedri and Gavi were missing in their latest defeat, they haven't faired any better in Europe with the two.

A midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Frenkie De Jong and Franck Kessie is good enough to compete, and to think two of those will start even if both Pedri and Gavi are available.

This back to back European elimination could give the Barcelona management something to ponder because the result will lowe their ability to spend and compete for transfer targets.

Will they be contempt with ruling the domestic competitions and coming short in Europe - which has been the theme under Xavi so far. And to think that is not the only low they'll have to settle for.

It is a difficult choice to stick with but what they'll hope for is that their manager start to get things right when they return to Europe next season, because European failures will have negative impact on their spending ability.

A third straight European disappointment of this kind will surely leave them having to choose whether to keep Xavi and continue to endure nights like this in Europe or start a new process under a new manager in the hope they'll bring smiles back to the faces of Cules on European nights.

Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi