By Tom Gott
Sevilla manager Quique Sanchez Flores has slammed Barcelona for their treatment of their legends after Xavi was relieved of his duties on Friday.
After months of back-and-forth on his future, it was definitively confirmed on Friday that Xavi will leave Barca at the end of the season after taking charge of the team's final game against Sevilla on Sunday.
The news of Xavi's departure broke during Quique's pre-match press conference, during which he offered his support for the former midfielder.
"Regarding Xavi, he is a legend of the club, of Barcelona and of football, which has a very short memory," Quique began. "Last season, he was league champion and this year he has been questioned from the first minute.
"I think the criticism about Xavi is not correct, he feels strongly about the club and any comparisons don't help. He has experienced many things as a player and has done a good job as a coach.
"I shouldn't say it, but how badly Barcelona treats its legends. What a bad streak - [Ronald] Koeman, [Lionel] Messi, Xavi now - I wish the club would treat them well, the legends. It's a legacy and a connection between the leaders and the fans. Such treatment adds up."
When Xavi first announced his plan to step down back in January, he admitted he had grown tired of the issues inside the club, and even when reports of his newly confirmed departure emerged, he conceded he was not surprised to see such speculation revolve around a manager of Barca.
The situation bears resemblance to Ronald Koeman's time in charge between August 2020 and October 2021, which ended in disarray as he slammed president Joan Laporta for his public and private treatment of him.
The next manager in the Camp Nou dugout is not expected to have any prior attachment to the club as former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick has agreed to make the move to Camp Nou.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Barcelona slammed for Xavi treatment by La Liga manager.
