Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has received the backing of club president Joan Laporta amid the team’s disappointing Champions League campaign.
Barca face the prospect of being knocked out of the Champions League group stage for a second straight campaign after Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at Camp Nou.
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Speaking ahead of Sunday’s league Clasico at Real Madrid, Laporta said: “I would tell the fans to keep believing. We have a very good team that has to give us joy. They [the fans] have to support Xavi, and we will give that support to him.
“Xavi has shown that he is a man who knows the club and the system perfectly, apart from being an excellent person. Things will get better, and he will give us many successes.
“We always talk. After the game I have a habit of talking to him. [After Wednesday’s game] I saw him sad and hurt. Xavi has a virtue that no one I’ve met has — he always sees the positive side. It’s something I’ve always liked.
“I told him to move forward, not to think about the Champions League and focus on LaLiga.”
Not progressing past the group stages of the Champions League and potentially dropping to the Europa League will have financial repercussions for Barca.
