BARCELONA striker Robert Lewandowski has hosted a “crisis lunch” at his house for Barcelona team-mates and close pals.
The crisis meal came in the midst of Xavi’s announcement that he would step down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season.
Xavi’s bombshell announcement came last week with Barcelona 11 points off league leaders Girona.
Speaking after a 5-3 loss to Villarreal, Xavi said: “I will leave Barcelona in June.
“We have reached a point of no return. It’s time for change.
“As a Culé, I think that it’s time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June”.
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Lewandowski has struggled this season despite banging in 23 LaLiga goals last term to fire Barcelona to the title.
He has only scored eight goals in the league this season, with fans also feeling his target man presence is slowing down Barcelona’s style of play.
He reportedly feels partly responsible for Xavi’s exit and wants the boss to reconsider his decision.
His meal was understood to be part of an attempt to rally the troops and focus their efforts on the Champions League.
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Barcelona’s club captains this season are Sergi Roberto, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie de Jong, but Lewandowski held the meal in his capacity as a senior player.
The details of the meal were reported exclusively in Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
The likes of Lamine Yamal, Jules Kounde, Marc Andre-Ter Stegen and Oriol Romeu were all in attendance.
Lewandowski is understood to have personally apologised to Xavi, thinking his performances have added to the manager’s stress.
Ilkay Gundogan is understood to be more accepting of Xavi’s call and feels it comes from a period of deep reflecton.
‘They kill you’
Expanding on his reason for his exit, Xavi said: “You asked me many times that if I’d be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Barça… the truth is that it will NEVER happen here.
“You guys won’t allow it — being Barça coach is so difficult. You see how they kill you, they criticise you, it affects you.
“It’s a cruel job, it wears you down.
“In Barcelona you always feel like you’re not valued, you’re mistreated – that’s how the club works. From a mental health level, it’s tough too.
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“I’m a positive guy but the battery levels keep running out — and at some point, you realise there’s no point in staying.”
Barca’s latest 5-3 loss to Villarreal in the league comes after they were dumped out of the Copa Del Rey by Athletic Club in a humiliating 4-1 defeat.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
