Put Xavi out of his misery! Barcelona are better off letting exhausted club legend leave now in a bid to boost morale ahead of new manager's arrival

Xavi announced his resignation rather suddenly, giving a sullen statement to the press after a 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal in early January.

"I will leave Barcelona in June. We have reached a point of no return. It's time for change," he said. "As a Culé, I think that it's time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on June 30. I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public. I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.”

There was no passion in his voice, no conviction in his words. This was a statement of defeat - and not necessarily a glorious one. In the three weeks since, Xavi has elaborated on the circumstances around his pending departure. The manager has referenced a range of issues; he feels he is holding the team back and can sense the uncertainty around the club. He also believes the media has made his job impossible. Most importantly, though, he could no longer cope with the pressure.

"I try to express what I feel. They make you feel worthless every day... I think we have a problem regarding the demands of this position," he admitted. "It is not enjoyable and it seems like you are risking your life every moment. That doesn't happen in any club. That's why I say it's cruel."

Xavi's tale is a familiar one for coaches around the world. The Barcelona manager referenced the struggles of his predecessors Luis Enrique, Ernesto Valverde and Pep Guardiola, while in a press conference, he publicly warned potential successor Rafa Marquez - the current coach of Barca Atletic - that he could face the same stress.

Xavi is not the first to voice these concerns, though. Guardiola said a similar thing 12 years ago when he, rather suddenly, announced his intent to leave Camp Nou. "Four years is an eternity," he famously said. "In December, I communicated to the president that I felt my stage here was ending. In these four years, I have become worn out. I have given everything and I need to recharge."

The now-Manchester City boss' comments came at a time of immense success, after four of the most memorable seasons in Barcelona's history. He needed a way out, and other former Barca managers have offered similar perspectives.

Ronald Koeman, who oversaw the decline of the club and fought the struggles of the post-Lionel Messi world, has expressed similar grievances. "Being Barca coach is an attack on mental health. It is much more fun to be a Barcelona player than a coach, and Xavi, as a Catalan and son of the club, has surely noticed it. It's the hardest job I've ever done," he revealed last week.

It's an issue that expands beyond Catalan borders, too. In late-January, Jurgen Klopp made clear his intent to leave Liverpool with a similar sentiment. "It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again," he told Liverpool's website.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are at a stand still, albeit not at a point of absolute crisis. For all of the talk of poor performances and inconsistencies at both ends of the pitch, they should still be comfortably qualify for the Champions League next season. Although Xavi's side remain 10 points off league leaders Madrid, they have a five-point buffer from fifth-placed Athletic Club.

They have scored the third-most goals in La Liga, as Robert Lewandowski, amid chatter of a concerning decline, has still found the net 10 times in the league. Youngster Lamine Yamal has dragged the side to a number of results in recent weeks, and looks good enough to carry the team for years to come despite being just 16. Throw in Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo, and there's still plenty of building blocks to create an elite team with.

Laporta's gripe, then, is that Barca simply aren't where they should be. If pedigree counts for anything, they should top La Liga every year. If talent is important, this team still looks good enough to be in the title mix. Xavi has rightly come under criticism for his tactical rigidity, and mismanagement of a squad heavy on centre-backs and light in wide attacking options, but this is not a club in total distress.

Based on talent alone, there is reason to believe that Barca could find some form in the coming weeks, albeit they face a gauntlet of away games, with trips to Athletic, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Girona all still to come before the end of the campaign.

The midfield trio of De Jong, Pedri and Ilkay Gundogan has been mesmerising for admittedly brief moments. Yamal, should his legs get the protection they need, will drag Barca to a few wins. Vitor Roque's tidy return of two goals in 97 La Liga minutes suggests that there could be more to come from the Brazilian teenager, too.

Xavi has also displayed a bit of tactical ambition. Andreas Christensen, a defensive pillar of last season's title-winning unit, has been utilised as a defensive midfielder to some success. Young full-back Hector Fort has impressed in a couple of appearances, while Lewandowski can never be counted out, such is his goalscoring prowess.

But all of these things have been pointed out before. Barca have the squad to compete, and the individuals good enough to win games on their own. Their current state has not been brought about by immediate slumps across the board, or a sudden disappearance of world-class footballing ability. Rather, this is a team-wide crisis of confidence, brought about by a manager who can no longer get the best out of his players. Improvement is possible, but far from a given.

Barca will, at some point, need a new manager. Sporting director Deco has dodged questions as to whether a search is underway - and played down talk that it is Marquez's job to lose. However, bringing in a fresh face now - Marquez or otherwise - could be the boost this Barcelona team needs.

The job is currently too much for Xavi. He has every right to air his grievances in front of the press every week - especially after operating in a culture of censorship for so long - but the Blaugrana need to make a change. Xavi doesn't appear to be enjoying the job anymore, and he will be better off leaving now.

Then there's the benefit to the team. The supposed 'new manager bounce' doesn't always work out, but a fresh face with new tactical ideas and a clean slate could at least give Barcelona a short-term boost. It might also help the players who are languishing under Xavi's supervision. Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo and Jules Kounde have all endured disappointing seasons. A new manager, with more expensive ideas, could get the best out of them - and bring the rest of the team along with them.

It would, admittedly, be a significant risk, and Barca's flailing finances will make a permanent managerial appointment tricky, but it could work for all parties.

The Barca job has lost its shine. This is no longer a post that offers the opportunity to manage Messi and push for league titles every season. There isn't unlimited money anymore, and goodwill from a media obsessed with fascinating football has mostly dried up.

Still, there are a number of intriguing immediate options on the market, with Hansi Flick being spoken of as a potential favourite. The German enjoyed immense success at Bayern Munich, as he won the treble in 2020, while in total, he won seven trophies during his 18 months in charge, losing just seven games before taking the German national team job.

Another possible immediate get is Marcelo Gallardo. The legandary River Plate coach hasn't enjoyed a strong start to life at Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, and Barca have shown interest in him before. Scattered rumours have suggested they could go in for Gallardo once again.

Marquez would be the sensible internal replacement, while finally relenting and handing Jose Mourinho the keys would be at the other end of the scale.

Either way, Xavi deserves the chance to walk, while a new manager could offer a crucial morale boost. Everyone might just be better off as a result.