Pep Guardiola is positive about Barcelona’s future: “The seeds are being planted”

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has received a major vote of confidence from former mentor and current Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who has backed the 41-year-old to lead the club to success.

Xavi took over the reins at Camp Nou only last month, with the team not performing well and things not all too pleasant off the field due to the financial issues. Barça are going through a major transitional period and find themselves out of the La Liga title picture currently.

In addition to that, the Blaugrana also got eliminated of the UEFA Champions League and will be playing in the Europa League for the second half of the season.

Guardiola, who was speaking at the 2021 Catalan Football Stars Gala (h/t SPORT), acknowledged that the club was going through a difficult phase, but insisted that better things await.

“In the last decade, Barça has won multiple league titles, Copa del Reys, and reached the Champions League semis. We can’t be nervous now. Sometimes, bad things in life happen. And if it’s time for that, then so be it. Better times will come soon,” the former Barcelona head coach said.

Speaking further, Guardiola, who was the Best Catalan Coach of the Year, backed Xavi to lead the club in the right direction, saying: “Now, at Barça, there is a very good board and a very good manager. Xavi will pull through because he loves the club. We have to be patient.

“The seeds are being planted. When the flowers grow, the team will start working well and winning again, which will happen.”

Xavi has managed seven games so far since replacing Ronald Koeman at the helm of affairs. Only three of them have ended with wins for Barcelona (D2 L2). There have been some positive signs but there is plenty of work to be done and as Guardiola said, patience will be needed.