'The same Barcelona players are now winning with Hansi Flick' - Joan Laporta fires back at Xavi

"The same players who were losing with Xavi are now winning with Flick. He became complacent and couldn't balance his professional and family life. And he said that in two years Barcelona wouldn't be competitive against Real Madrid and in Europe. I called him to ask him about it, and he told me he'd been misunderstood, but he was constantly dissatisfied with the squad and the referees."

"What hurts me is that he allowed himself to be used. To hurt me, he's used someone from my inner circle. They defended him even when it was indefensible for him to continue. He's eager to smear me. Behind Xavi, I understand Victor Font is trying to manipulate this electoral process."

Laporta responded to Xavi's critical interview by defending his managerial decision, stating that the same players who underperformed under Xavi are now winning with Flick. He characterized Xavi as complacent, unable to balance professional and personal life, and constantly dissatisfied with squad competitiveness. Laporta claimed Xavi predicted Barcelona would be uncompetitive against Real Madrid and in Europe within two years. He expressed hurt at Xavi's statements but framed them as part of a political strategy, suggesting Xavi is being used by presidential candidate Victor Font to damage Laporta's reputation ahead of elections.

Read at Barca Blaugranes