'He's a Barcelona legend' - Joan Laporta explains why he's allowing Xavi to see out 2023-24 season despite 'difficult times' as club president makes Champions League vow

After his team's 5-3 defeat against Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday, Xavi announced to the media that he will step down as Barcelona coach at the end of the season. The news came as a surprise to his players, who were not informed privately by Xavi, and president Laporta said on Sunday that the club continue to stand by their iconic former midfielder.

Laporta told the club's official media channel: "Xavi informed me that he would leave at the end of the season. He wanted to finish the season and it's a formula that I accept because it was Xavi who proposed it to me. And he is a Barca legend. He is an honest person; he acts with complete dignity; and he is a person who loves Barca."

He added: "We have to give everything we have to try to win the Champions League. We are in the next round against Napoli, and we are going step by step, and I think that, with commitment, with more character, without losing concentration, with the coach giving everything that I know he will, and with the players fully committed, we will be able to achieve some of the goals we have set for ourselves at the end of the season. We had the second-best attendance yesterday, but it’s not just about the attendance, it's about the fans, cheering at all times, when the team are going through the most difficult times."

Xavi got his players together for a meeting on Sunday morning to explain his decision to leave the club this summer. Then, after their training session, Laporta addressed the squad and urged them to keep their spirits and performances up between now and the end of the season. The Catalan side are already out of the Copa del Rey, were beaten in the Supercopa de Espana and sit 10 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga and a further point behind shock leaders Girona, who have played one more game than their rivals.

Xavi will try to keep his team motivated to give them a chance of getting back into the title race in La Liga while he will also be eager to inspire a long Champions League run, with the Camp Nou side set to visit Napoli in the competition on February 21.