Barcelona 'picks Rafael Marquez as Xavi's potential replacement' (1 Viewer)

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly thinking about bringing in Rafael Marquez as the new head coach for the club, putting pressure on the current manager, Xavi. The team has faced setbacks in their recent matches against Girona and Royal Antwerp, particularly a 4-2 loss to Girona that has dropped them to fourth place in La Liga.

There are reports suggesting that the Barcelona board is losing confidence in Xavi, and if the upcoming match against Valencia doesn't yield positive results, the legendary midfielder might be relieved of his managerial duties. According to Marca, Laporta has already identified Rafael Marquez as a potential replacement, considering him a first-team head coach in the making.

The report highlights Laporta's admiration for Marquez's tactical expertise and deep understanding of the club's philosophy. Marquez, who played for Barcelona from 2003 to 2010, making 242 appearances and winning multiple titles, has been serving as the head of Barcelona B since July 2022, under a two-year contract.

Ferran Torres, commenting after the Antwerp match, reassured that the players are fully supportive of the coach despite the team's inconsistent results and performances throughout the season.

"We are very united, we are with the coach to the maximum," he told reporters on Wednesday night.
"We have to correct things, we know that, but these are dynamics that occur throughout the seasons and we have to turn them around and we will do it.
"We are the first to be disappointed, but we have to focus on the league. We know the external noise at Barca, that they are trying to destroy us, but we have to check with it."