Xavi reveals 'unnecessary tension' has rocked Barcelona after Royal Antwerp defeat
Xavi Hernandez has lamented the "unnecessary tension" which has been generated by media reports of unrest at Barcelona. Xavi's Barca lost a second consecutive game on Wednesday evening, being bested by Group H whipping boys Royal Antwerp in their final Champions League outing of 2023. The defeat followed an even more damaging loss to Girona in La Liga on Sunday evening which saw Barca slip down to fourth in the league table, a whopping seven points adrift of the table toppers. In the aftermath of the Girona failure, Spanish media outlets reported Barca's hierarchy were beginning to lose faith in Xavi as the club's manager, with president Joan Laporta believed to have been furious with the performance. Barca slumped to another defeat against Antwerp / Fantasista/GettyImages Speaking to the press after the Champions League defeat to Antwerp, Xavi was keen to address the recent coverage of the club and insisted the media had created issues behind the scenes due to...