'Like my parents have died' - Under-fire Barcelona boss Xavi draws 'funeral' comparison as he bemoans reaction to the Blaugrana's poor run of form

Despite securing Champions League qualification by finishing on top of the group, the recent defeat against Royal Antwerp has placed Xavi in a precarious position. Additionally, the 4-2 thrashing to Girona last weekend saw them slip to the fourth spot in La Liga, further putting him under intense scrutiny. Criticising the unrealistic reactions, Xavi revealed that he has received messages akin to a funeral and expressed his disappointment at the lack of recognition for achieving Champions League progression.

Speaking to reporters, Xavi said: "It’s time to be composed, calm, and regain confidence. I believe in the project more than ever, and we are united. I spoke to with Deco yesterday, everything is ok. We've got the league [to play for], [and] it's true that we have to improve and add more - the Super Cup and the Copa Del Rey. I don't get it. It's time to come together, to believe in the project. It's the most complicated club in the world because of its entorno (environment).As if it were a funeral, as if my father or mother had died.

"None of you congratulated me in the last press conference for qualifying [for the last 16]. This is the unreality that I see. If the season ends excellently, then what? We're going to be having a hard time or be depressed... But it's all to play for. On the day of Atletico [Madrid] we were a 10 and now we are a zero."

Xavi brushed aside speculations of him tendering his resignation if results do not improve and insisted that the players are more united than ever.

"In the dressing room everyone is training really well and they get really annoyed when things do not go well,” Xavi added.

“The players believe in what they are doing. I think they (media questioning him) are generating a tension that is not necessary. A month ago I was told I could be the (Sir Alex) Ferguson of Barcelona, now I might be sacked…stability is what the club needs. We are a winning project and we cannot go into a deep depression every time there is a slump.”

Xavi is aware that they can hardly afford to fail again at the Mestalla on Saturday. He admitted that it won't be an easy game but he called for more optimism ahead of the trip.

“We need points. In the league we’re not where we deserve to be. The defeat against Girona affected us," he said.

"The alarms always go off here when things don’t go well, because everything is in play. Last season things went worse and we ended up having a good season. We have to be positive."