“Laporta has learned how to protect a coach, compared to before,” former Barca coach Ronald Koeman has said in his press conference.
“Yes, that coffee continues to get cold with Laporta. It's hard because I think differently about many things than him,” Koeman adds.
Koeman was Barca's coach in 2021 until he was sacked towards the end of the year and replaced by Xavi. The Dutch gaffer and Barca legend slammed club president Joan Laporta for lying to him and not protecting him in the media.
However, it must be noted that when Barca sacked Koeman the club were seated ninth in La Liga and in danger of missing out on a European place.
Barca appointed Xavi in November 2021 and he instantly brought radical improvements to the club. The Blaugrana went on to finish second that season. Then came the trophies as Barca won the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga a year later.
Xavi has now guided Barca to the Champions League quarter-final for the first time in four years. That was almost inconceivable under Koeman.
It's therefore easy to see why Laporta protects Xavi and wants him to continue as Barca coach next season. That may not happen though as Xavi seems to have made up his mind to leave.
