'We’ll try to compete with Madrid, but fans must understand the situation isn’t the same as 25 years ago' – Xavi

Originally posted on Football Espana | By Ruairidh Barlow | Last updated 5/15/24

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez gave little away about their transfer strategy this summer, after declaring that they had not intended on bringing in Vitor Roque in December. However he did declare that changes are on the horizon, while asking for understanding of the economic situation.

He was asked if he would feel happy competing with the current squad next season, and said that improvement was on his mind. But they still do not have clarity on their salary limit situation.

“No, the goal is to change. If not, you can’t improve.”

“We don’t know, we have to see what the economic situation is like. But this is not the time to comment on this, I can’t contribute anything.”

Meanwhile he remained coy on what those plans were.

“I’m not telling you (the journalist), I’m telling Deco. The president and Deco are always positive. But the economic situation will impact us again.”

“We will explain everything when we have a picture of the squad. First, we will have to plan and reinforce ourselves. It is not our objective now to think about planning, it is to play tomorrow and meet certain minimums: finish second.”

Xavi did temper expectations for their business this summer though, and with Kylian Mbappe set to arrive next summer at Real Madrid, asked for understanding from the Blaugrana faithful.

“We are going to try to compete against Madrid. I think that the cule must understand that the situation is very difficult. Above all, on an economic level. We have an economic situation that has nothing to do with 25 years ago, we can no longer go out and pick and say ‘I want this one, this one, and that one.’ We are not in the same conditions than other clubs with very advantageous economic situations.”

“The Barcelona fans have to understand it. That does not mean that we do not want to compete, but that is Barca’s situation at the moment. We need stability and time, but we will try to compete.”

Xavi: "João Félix has helped us a lot and has very good numbers, but he has a lot of competition. Raphinha and Robert are now at a very good level and have good numbers, too. João has been important and he has to be until the end of the season."

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) May 15, 2024

Barcelona President Joan Laporta ran his campaign on a motif of competing against Real Madrid once more, and addressing a culture of losing without consequence in his eyes. The one season that Barcelona did invest heavily, they won La Liga, but it looks as if investment and league titles might be scarce in the coming years.

The post “We’ll try to compete with Madrid, but fans must understand the situation isn’t the same as 25 years ago” – Xavi appeared first on Football España.

This article first appeared on Football Espana and was syndicated with permission.

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