Xavi under pressure! Barcelona boss losing faith of players and backing of club directors as Antwerp loss brings up fourth defeat in nine games

According to Cadena Ser, the Barcelona manager is facing heightened scrutiny after their disappointing performance against Royal Antwerp in the Champions League on Wednesday. Although the Blaugrana qualified as group-toppers, goals from Arthur Vermeeren, Vincent Janssen and then George Ilenikhena in stoppage time condemned them to a 3-2 defeat in Belgium.

The atmosphere within the club and the dressing room is thought to be tense, according to the report, with constant leaks adding to the pressure. Despite public support from Ferran Torres, it has been revealed that four key players, including Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are unhappy with Xavi's management, citing dissatisfaction with his coaching style and a perceived lack of tactical solutions.

Board members have also allegedly expressed frustration with the team's physical condition. The team was visibly uninspired in their approach against Antwerp and reports of a shimmering feud between Xavi and Sporting Director Deco over squad selection have further added fuel to the uncertainty. Reports from Diario AS suggest that members of the sporting commission, including Laporta, Deco, Joan Soler, Enric Masip, Rafael Yuste, and Bojan Krkic, have little trust left in Xavi, describing his position as "very weak."

Amid the crisis, Lamine Yamal was the only bright spark as he became the youngest player to register an assist in the Champions League after setting up Torres.

The upcoming match against Valencia on Sunday is, therefore, though to be crucial for Xavi's future. A victory could give him some much-needed breathing space but failure to inspire a positive reaction from the players will push him further into uncertainty.