An update on the developing situation behind the scenes at La Liga giants Barcelona has come to the fore on Monday evening.
The info comes courtesy of Marca, who point towards sporting director Deco, and head coach Xavi, as having cleared the air.
Late on Sunday night, a round of quotes attributed to Deco made their way online, culminating in quite the stir in Catalunya’s capital.
The comments in question centered on the managerial situation at the club, and why the decision had been made to make a definitive move away from Barcelona’s long-standing roots with a view to next season:
“A radical change is needed,” Deco explained to ‘Nascer do Sol’ (as cited by Sport). “There is a method that is finished. The President is with me. We need to find someone who breaks up with the past once and for all and move towards a new model.”
As much, in turn, was put to Xavi on the back of Barca’s stalemate with Granada, with the Spanish tactician having looked none-too-pleased, in responding:
“Where did he say that? He doesn’t say that to me. He tells me that he believes in the Barça DNA and style. I can’t say anything else.”
Media speculation across the day to date had as a result pointed towards mounting tensions behind the scenes in Catalunya, with Deco and Xavi headed towards a potentially serious falling out.
As much, however, has since failed to play out.
In fact, the pair are understood to have held a thoroughly productive meeting, which culminated in a mutual agreement regarding the plan moving forward.
As per Marca:
‘Deco explained to the coach that at no time did he want to imply what has been published in some media and that he only wanted to reflect a situation that the club was experiencing after Xavi himself said that he would leave the bench on June 30 and that It was a time of change in direction.’
And Xavi was fully receptive to this explanation, with the air, consequently, having been very much cleared.
As much comes fresh off Afonso de Melo, the journalist responsible for interviewing Deco, issuing a public apology for misinterpreting the plans laid out by the Portuguese:
“Deco told me that as Xavi had said, it was time for deep changes. We talked about Klopp. I interpreted the changes to mean changing the philosophy. It was my mistake…”
Conor Laird | GSFN
