Pep Guardiola complained about the schedule before Manchester City's Champions League match against Real Madrid.

A heated Champions League rivalry should have another chapter soon when Manchester City meet Real Madrid in the round of 16. However, there is already controversy over what Pep Guardiola considers unfair treatment of his team.

Manchester City suffered the worst outcome in the draw by being paired with Real Madrid while Bodo/Glimt was the other option. The schedule will be tight for both clubs, but the Football Association was not kind with the FA Cup programming, which the Spanish manager loudly complained about.

Guardiola said without prompting: “We have Nottingham Forest. After that, three days for the FA Cup in Newcastle at 8 PM. Thanks so much for that time to go battle Real Madrid with less recovery. It’s different if you return to Manchester at 7 or 8 PM than at 1 or 2 AM. Also for Newcastle. It’s not the same one time than the other.”

Manchester City’s calendar

The calendar gets tight for every top club at this time of year. In this case Guardiola appears to have a point, because most other teams play their FA Cup matches at 3 PM local time while City must travel to play at a much later hour.

Manchester City’s next challenge is a Premier League match with Nottingham Forest this Wednesday, followed by a trip to Newcastle for the FA Cup on Saturday, and then the Champions League first leg against Real Madrid in Spain the following Wednesday.

Guardiola added: “I know every team plays at 3 PM, but we play at 8 PM. Those details make the difference. Just like a corner kick, a free kick or a throw-in. We are going to have less recovery and then go to Madrid.”

The fixture before the rematch

Manchester City’s attempt to overtake Arsenal in the Premier League continues with a favorable home match against West Ham after the first leg of the round of 16. That match was moved back a few hours to give them extra rest, which means the second leg will arrive sooner. The club will try to secure a place in the quarterfinals on the following Tuesday.

A French World Cup winner backed Real Madrid's Vinicius after his Champions League controversy.

The move to the Champions League quarterfinals wasn’t easy for Real Madrid. Benfica was an important rival in a match that became more dramatic because of Vinicius’ controversy, in which he claimed he was discriminated against by Gianluca Prestianni. Marcel Desailly, a World Cup winner with France, backed the winger.

In the context of the Laureus Awards nominations, which honor individuals and teams in sport, Desailly described what makes Vinicius a victim and called for change.

Desailly said: “I’m happy to see Vinicius play. He can celebrate, he did it the last time he scored. There’s no problem with that part. The problem is the perception of him, we must end this and accept things must change. It’s unacceptable when this happens inside stadiums.”

Desailly on Real Madrid’s problems

It’s not been a normal season for Real Madrid since the start. The hiring of Xabi Alonso raised expectations in the capital that the team has not met. A brief surge under Álvaro Arbeloa has turned into another crisis.

The loss at the Santiago Bernabéu to a modest Getafe angered the fans amid a run of disappointing performances, which the former French international described as more about mentality.

Desailly said: “They are not calm, but they have individuals who can raise the level to help the team collectively reach what is expected of the famous Real Madrid. Meanwhile, they need calm.”

Desailly on the level of the World Cup

Desailly was a key part of the France team that won the World Cup in 1998. Although he saw red in the final against Brazil, he was an indispensable player in defense. His experience provided useful context to assess the tournament’s level.

The Frenchman said: “As to the matches, we’ll see how much the players give of themselves. But generally, the World Cup delivers great games. In Qatar the level was exceptional. This summer there could be even better matches than then.”

Pep Guardiola sounds ready to play against Real Madrid in Manchester City's next Champions League match.

Friday was the day for the Champions League to establish the round of 16 matches. Some ties could easily be finals, like the one Manchester City must play. Pep Guardiola was not discouraged by being drawn against Real Madrid.

Once Real Madrid’s victory over Benfica was confirmed, many voices from the club predicted the English side would be the opponent. In the end, they were right. After the event it was club legend Emilio Butragueño who complained about the pairing.

Guardiola had a different approach to the match. “For our club, the more we play against the best teams of this competition, the better. We’ll learn more, we’ll improve and we’ll be better in the future,” he said.

Guardiola’s description of Real Madrid

Real Madrid have not had the season they expected and even made an early managerial change, appointing Álvaro Arbeloa as interim for Xabi Alonso. That does not change Guardiola’s view.

The Spanish manager has had historic matches against Real Madrid, including epic El Clásico nights. This tie will not be new to him either, since he has faced European giants many times even after leaving his country.

Guardiola was respectful of his rivals even if they are not producing dazzling performances: “Since I was a player and a manager with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Real Madrid have always had great players. It’s different than our last match because it was Alonso before, now it’s Arbeloa. We’ll see.”

Guardiola isn’t thinking about Real Madrid yet

The most important match of the Champions League could be this one, and everyone is anxious to see who moves on to the final eight. That is not Guardiola’s focus right now.

He laid out the immediate schedule to explain his priorities: “In the middle of the week we have Nottingham Forest, then Newcastle in the FA Cup. We have time to think about Real Madrid.”

Lamine Yamal talked about an issue that was bothering after Barcelona defeated Villarreal with his first hat-trick.

Lamine Yamal continues to make history with records that will be hard to match. Almost everything he does feels new, because he is just 18 years old. His first hat-trick for Barcelona was one of those moments.

In a match against Villarreal that promised to be difficult, Barcelona solved the problem with a 4-1 victory. The standout player of the day was the winger, who scored three goals to keep his team in first place in La Liga.

Yamal showed his emotion after the match. The young player told Movistar that his injury had stopped him from enjoying his football: “People want you at 16 years old to score 100 goals. I wasn’t fine. It was a mix of everything, the groin pain. I wasn’t happy before, it showed. Since last week I have felt better, I smile while I play. I’m happy when I’m playing.”

Yamal on staying longer on the field

A long run of matches awaits Barcelona, with Atletico Madrid already waiting for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal where Hansi Flick’s side need to overturn a four-goal deficit.

For that tie Barcelona must produce a perfect performance to reach the final. To help with that, it was important to close the victory quickly so Flick could rest some players.

Yamal did not want to leave the field until he completed his hat-trick, as he told journalists after the game: “I told Flick to wait to substitute me out for the goal, the third one. Not the team’s third goal, luckily it was mine.”

Yamal’s emotional gift

Every player who scores a hat-trick receives the match ball from the referee. For players who have many, the gesture may not be very emotional, but for Yamal the ball was special. He gave the gift to his mother, as shown by Fabrizio Romano on social media.

❤️🫂 Lamine Yamal: “My mom will get the hat-trick ball, definitely!”. ⚽️@DAZNFutbol 🎥 pic.twitter.com/Hf3DhfLfeI

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 28, 2026

Xavi picked his Barcelona presidential candidate to rival Joan Laporta.

Barcelona are experiencing an important moment in their institutional life as the presidential election approaches. Many candidates are ready to succeed Joan Laporta, and some figures are choosing a side. Xavi confirmed his decision.

The former midfielder has chosen Víctor Font as his preferred presidential candidate. Even if he previously served as Barcelona manager while Laporta was president, his departure from the club was not smooth.

Xavi had already supported Font in the past, and on Saturday he confirmed his endorsement by signing in favor of him. With many important matters for the first team at this time of year, the March 15 elections are especially relevant to supporters.

Former players supporting Laporta

Xavi remains one of the club’s most influential figures. His name carries weight, so it is understandable that other candidates find it hard to match that support. Two former players closely associated with Laporta’s administration have backed his candidacy.

Deco was the most prominent former player to back Laporta’s return to the presidency, which was unsurprising given his current role as sporting director under this administration.

The other supporter was Bojan Krkic, who signed the petition at Laporta’s headquarters. While his career did not ultimately match the early expectations set during his youth, his backing is likely meaningful for the candidate.

Barcelona’s minimum signs required

Voting has not yet taken place. What these former players did was sign to show their support for their chosen presidential candidate. Barcelona requires each candidate to collect at least 2,337 signatures from supporters to be eligible to stand in the election, and Monday is the deadline to submit them.

The move of Antoine Griezmann to the MLS with Orlando City may be at risk after Atletico Madrid's executive comments.

There have been some rumors about the possibility of a huge star joining MLS this year. It was reported that Antoine Griezmann has an offer from Orlando City that he may be considering, which prompted a response from an Atletico Madrid executive.

Friday determined the Champions League draw for the remainder of the competition, with many important people attending. One of them was Mateu Alemany, an executive from the Madrid club, who spoke about this.

Alemany said: “This is a topic that sparks much journalistic speculation. Antoine has two more years left on his contract with us; he’s focused on the things that are coming for the club. His performance has been great.”

Simeone on Griezmann’s stay with Atletico Madrid

Following the news that Tottenham are the rivals awaiting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, Diego Simeone met with journalists to address several topics.

The continuity of Griezmann with Atletico Madrid has been the main topic in the club’s most recent press conferences. This has led the manager to show his exhaustion each time he is asked about the player.

Simeone said after avoiding the subject many times before: “I’m going to repeat it. We are talking with Antoine. We shouldn’t put pressure on or talk too much to him. He knows how important he is for us. We focus on the good things coming. There is no space.”

Griezmann’s deadline to join Orlando

The transfer window is not open in Europe for incoming players. However, the time limit depends on the league the player would join. This creates a problem for Atletico Madrid if Griezmann leaves for Orlando City.

In MLS, March 26 marks the last day teams can sign players. This is where a move looks more complicated, because it would mean leaving the club during the most important stretch of the season. Not moving now does not mean the Frenchman will not leave Spain, only that it may not happen immediately.

A Real Madrid legend wasn't happy when his club was paired with Manchester City in the Champions League.

Friday was set aside for the Champions League draw after the playoff round. The last 16 teams had to be distributed, with each of the top eight teams having two clubs as potential opponents. Real Madrid’s pairing with Manchester City prompted comments from club legend Emilio Butragueño.

Real Madrid had Manchester City and Sporting CP as their potential rivals, with a clear idea of which was the tougher opponent. As many neutral fans expected, they were paired with Pep Guardiola’s side. Butragueño represented the club at the event and delivered a pointed remark after the draw concluded.

Butragueño said he was not surprised in a particular way: “It’s curious that we have been playing against them every season. I think it has been five consecutive years with Manchester City. We know each other very well.”

Butragueño shares prediction for Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Butragueño was not part of any European Cup winning team, as Real Madrid had struggles being the dominant club outside Spain that they are today. However, he was a cornerstone for more than a decade after coming through the club’s youth system.

The former striker understands what it means to represent Real Madrid. He offered a broad view of how the tie against Manchester City might unfold, noting that both teams usually seek to attack.

He predicted a high-scoring series, as in previous encounters: “Every time we play against them they are matches of attacking soccer, of two teams that want to dominate, normally with many goals. One of the best matches you can see around the world.”

Real Madrid’s injuries

Butragueño trusts his club to overcome the English side in this round. The styles promise a great spectacle, but he believes player form and availability could be decisive. He commented on Real Madrid’s absences for the tie.

The Spanish icon said: “We have injured players that are very important for us. We trust they can be ready for the series because we are going to need everybody considering the exigence of the rivals. We live it with hope.”

Kylian Mbappé may miss more matches for Real Madrid with a knee injury, according to Álvaro Arbeloa.

The playoff with Benfica, which finished with a pair of victories, took Real Madrid to the round of 16 in the Champions League. They were able to defeat the Portuguese club even though they couldn’t have Kylian Mbappé in Álvaro Arbeloa’s lineup.

Real Madrid have not shown their best level this season but have remained competitive. However, Mbappé’s numbers make him the team’s standout player. With 38 goals in 33 matches, he is clearly their most dangerous attacking threat.

That is why his injury status raises concern after he missed Wednesday’s match with a knee issue. Arbeloa admitted he could be sidelined for some time: “I spoke with him, and we consulted with the medical team. We believed it was best for him to stop and recover 100%, so he can return in top form and confidence without discomfort for what’s ahead.”

Arbeloa also provided a cautious update on Mbappé’s return: “When discomfort prevents you from playing, if we want to call it an injury we can call it an injury, but it seems to be, and I hope it is, not a serious injury, a minor issue, and he can return in a few days or weeks. We have a diagnosis, but I’m not the one to disclose such data about the players’ health.”

Real Madrid with many players in doubt

Mbappé was clearly the most important absence from Friday’s training session. Another notable name was Jude Bellingham, who is still recovering from a muscle injury that should keep him out for a few more weeks.

Raúl Asensio was also not with the group after a collision during the second leg against Benfica that led the manager to substitute him immediately as a precaution.

Three more players were not part of regular training. Dani Ceballos, Dean Huijsen and Militao trained indoors with limited activity as they continue working their way back from injuries.

Real Madrid’s main challenge

Up next, Real Madrid face Getafe on Monday as they continue chasing Barcelona in La Liga. Sitting one point behind leaves little margin for rotation. The main concern now is in defense, where only Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba are fully available.

With Celta coming after Getafe, the manager may adjust his approach in Vigo, especially with a demanding Champions League tie against Manchester City scheduled for March 11 in the first leg.

Álvaro Arbeloa left a spicy comment about Real Madrid's next rival in the Champions League drawing.

Real Madrid confirmed their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a victory over Benfica on Wednesday in Madrid. In the press conference following the win, Álvaro Arbeloa had something to say.

The new format of the competition doesn’t establish a full draw from the beginning. There’s a draw after the playoff round to establish matches between two possibilities for each of the main eight teams from the league phase.

For Real Madrid, Manchester City or Sporting will be the rivals. Arbeloa made a comment that may not be well received by UEFA officials: “People have gotten used to a City-Real Madrid. I’m sure we get that again. It doesn’t matter to us, it’s going to be hard anyway knowing the rematch isn’t at home. Let’s see what the hot draw ball says.” This implies the draw could once again pair them with Manchester City in a highly anticipated matchup.

Thibaut Courtois agrees with Arbeloa

The main person in the team for the hardest moments has been Thibaut Courtois. His presence covers some mistakes from the Real Madrid defense, giving his teammates confidence.

With his usual calmness on the field, he repeated the prediction that Arbeloa had as to who they are going to see in the next round. Unlike his manager, the goalkeeper’s answer was a simple “yes, we are seeing them.”

Courtois also referred to the possibility of playing against the Portuguese club Sporting: “It’s been a long time since I played them. It’s a nice stadium. It’s a hard rival, but we have history with City too, it’s the dream match for the lottery.”

The Champions League draw

The rivals for all remaining teams will be decided by a draw. This will take place on Friday, 27 February at 6:00 AM EST. Looking further ahead, the potential rivals that Real Madrid could get in the quarterfinals are Atalanta, Arsenal or Bayern Munich. From that side of the draw in the semifinals, one potential challenge could be PSG.

Hansi Flick referred to the repercussion of everything that happens with Barcelona, like substituting Lamine Yamal out.

A significant milestone awaits Hansi Flick as he approaches his 100th match in charge of Barcelona. Ahead of that mark, he spoke with the club’s media and addressed the impact of his decisions, including substituting Lamine Yamal during matches.

After managing Bayern Munich, Flick says the spotlight at Barcelona is on another level. According to him, everything that happens at the club, whether it is something a player says, something the manager says, or a tactical decision during a match, quickly becomes a major topic.

Flick said: “Everything that happens here, what a player or the manager says, or what we do generates noise outside. Everybody focuses on Barcelona. If I substitute Yamal, everyone is watching him. We know it. That’s how things are.”

Flick’s keys to make a comeback against Atletico Madrid

Barcelona face a demanding stretch. Saturday’s La Liga match against Villarreal is crucial in a tight race where every point could make the difference. At the same time, there is another major challenge coming on Tuesday.

After a disastrous first leg in the Copa del Rey semifinal, when Atletico Madrid were four goals ahead at halftime, the task of overturning the result will not be easy. Flick, however, believes his players can respond, especially with the support of the fans.

Flick said: “It’s difficult but not impossible. We must believe we are capable of coming back. We must give everything or even more in those 90 minutes. We must fight for the team, the club and the fans. We must have them on our side. Since we returned to Camp Nou we haven’t lost a match. We must come out with a positive attitude to produce a comeback.”

The importance of playstyle

At Barcelona, winning is not the only priority. The way the team plays and how results are achieved matter deeply to those around the club. Flick understands that expectation, even when results are disappointing.

He said: “You don’t just have to win. It’s how you do it. Last season when we lost to Inter in the Champions League semifinals, we were all disappointed. But we were very proud of what we had done in those matches.”

Frenkie de Jong scared everybody in Barcelona's latest training session.

Barcelona was ready to enter the most important part of the season with their best team. With the midfield not having the ideal setup because of several injuries, they now appear forced to prepare for the match against Villarreal in La Liga without Frenkie de Jong.

The Dutch midfielder could not finish Thursday morning’s training session with the rest of the squad, according to Marca. His problem was initially reported as a muscle issue in his thigh. It was later confirmed to be a strain in the distal hamstring of the right leg that will sideline him for five to six weeks.

This comes at a very bad time for manager Hansi Flick, who will be without him for key matches. His absence for Saturday against Villarreal and for the Copa del Rey semifinal on Tuesday against Atletico Madrid has already been confirmed, and his availability for the Champions League Round of 16 also appears highly doubtful.

Barcelona’s midfield situation

Injuries never come at a good time for players. However, a team can often cope if injuries are staggered rather than clustered. The good news for Barcelona may be seeing more minutes from a young midfield duo who could see the field soon.

❗️Medical report

First-team player Frenkie de Jong sustained an injury to the distal biceps of his right leg during this morning’s training session.

Medical tests have confirmed that the expected recovery period will be approximately five to six weeks. pic.twitter.com/2irBhMoAG2

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 26, 2026

Pedri may be the ideal player to step in if Frenkie is sidelined for a while. The Spanish midfielder, who missed about a month with an injury, returned last Sunday for roughly 30 minutes and could begin to get more minutes as he regains fitness.

The other player fans have missed is Gavi, who has been out for most of the season after an arthroscopy to repair a meniscus. He has rejoined partial training since last week and, even if he needs a few more matches to return to full strength, he would be a valuable addition when available.

Barcelona’s hard challenges ahead

The Champions League round of 16 may be the toughest immediate test, with the opponent being Chelsea or Newcastle. Locally, though, the obstacles are just as difficult and rotation to rest players may not be realistic.

Villarreal represent a genuine threat as the third-place team in La Liga. With only a one-point margin, a draw is not an acceptable result. The Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico Madrid is another steep challenge after the first-leg 4-0 defeat that Barcelona will need to erase next week.

LAFC manager Marc Dos Santos explained why Son Heung-min left the Concacaf Champions Cup match early.

Son Heung-min’s tenure with LAFC has just begun. This is his first full year with the team after arriving in August 2025 from Tottenham. The production so far has been good, so the early exit in the victory over Real España in the Concacaf Champions Cup left some doubts that manager Marc Dos Santos explained.

The series was finished before it even started for how the first leg went. A 6-1 victory in Honduras made this match a mere obligation in Los Angeles to see what club came through to the competition’s next round. Tuesday’s 1-0 win gave only the concern of Son leaving the field at halftime.

Dos Santos gave a very calming description of why he made the substitution: “We originally planned to use Son and Denis Bouanga for only 45 minutes. The two players did not have a perfect preseason. Regaining their match rhythm was the most important thing. We had already informed them that they would only play the first half.”

LAFC secure Bouanga’s future

The victory in the Concacaf Champions Cup with the tranquility from Don Santos’ words weren’t the only good news for LAFC fans. The club has also secured they are keeping their top striker for many years to come.

Their decision was an easy one as they described: “LAFC has re-signed forward Bouanga to a contract extension as a Designated Player through 2028, with an option through the 2029-30 season.”

For the French striker his move to LAFC has been a great one that boosts a league title with many individual accolades. His numbers of 105 goals in 155 matches put him already in the legend status for the club.

LAFC’s next matches

LAFC opened the season with a 3-0 victory against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. This puts them as a clear candidate for the trophy albeit in a long calendar. What comes next are matches with Houston Dynamo on Saturday, FC Dallas a week later and St. Louis on March 14.

Joan Laporta wasn't pleased with the CTA admitting the referee's mistake that led to a Barcelona loss to Girona in La Liga.

Barcelona has been subject to some refereeing mistakes in recent matches. The error that sparked the most controversy was the one that led to the loss to Girona, which gave Real Madrid the momentary lead in La Liga standings. Joan Laporta posted his thoughts on the recent resolution.

A previous complaint concerned an offside flagged on Pau Cubarsí in the 4-0 Copa del Rey defeat to Atletico Madrid. That incident sparked outrage at the club. This week the CTA of the RFEF, the Spanish federation’s technical committee of referees, sided with Barcelona.

Laporta said: “The pressure on Jules Koundé was obvious. Nobody’s going to give us the lost point back. It was clear. Admitting the mistake is a step, but they are not giving the point back. We have mixed feelings. Let’s hope this does not get repeated.”

CTA’s full explanation

The controversial play was decisive in Barcelona’s defeat to Girona. With the match tied 1-1, Girona scored with just five minutes remaining. In the action, Claudio Echeverri stepped on Koundé in the lead up to the goal.

The CTA stated: “Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct clarifies that a reckless stamp constitutes a foul and a caution. Contesting the ball does not exempt a player from committing an offence. If a player steps on an opponent using excessive force, it must be sanctioned.”

Their resolution was that it was a foul: “The Girona forward removes the defender from the defensive action, and the infringement should therefore be punished with a foul and a yellow card. VAR should intervene, as this involves a clear and obvious error, and advise the referee to change the decision.”

Barcelona’s answer

Barcelona regained ground over the weekend to put the point margin back in their favor. That may have tempered the club’s response, but they posted a short message on social media: “Owning a mistake is a big step. Avoiding it is the next.”

Vinicius' teammate in Brazil invited him to his club if he leaves Real Madrid.

Vinicius has been rumored to have a strained relationship with Real Madrid executives amid a contract dispute over his extension. However, that has quieted since Xabi Alonso left. Even if he stays with the Spanish side for a while, a teammate in Brazil invited him to join his club.

The winger joined Real Madrid in 2018 from Flamengo, the club where he developed in his country. That’s where he was invited back by Lucas Paquetá, who recently returned to his roots from West Ham. Paquetá mentioned the promise in an interview with ESPN and urged Vinicius to consider coming home when the time is right.

They played together from 2017 to 2018, forming a close bond in the youth setups and sharing the same training routines and ambitions. Paquetá said: “I’m here. Now it’s only you missing. Return because we must fulfill what we promised. I’m sure he will return when the time comes.”

Paquetá on the alleged case of racism

Vinicius scored the winning goal against Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League playoff but he became the centre of an incident in which Gianluca Prestianni allegedly insulted him.

On Wednesday there will be a rematch between the Spanish and the Portuguese sides for a place in the round of 16 of the continent’s top club competition, with only a one-goal margin to protect in Madrid.

Paquetá defended the Real Madrid player. “We talk a lot. It’s sad to see Vini having to live with and hear the things that happen to him. Those who know him know how lovely he is. People impose a burden on him that he shouldn’t carry. He’s the victim. Flamengo, his teammates and I are with him. We give him our full support.”

Vinicius’ contract with Real Madrid

It was nearly impossible in the past to see huge stars leave their clubs for free. That has changed recently, with Real Madrid’s moves for the biggest names, like Kylian Mbappé, as a notable example.

The Brazilian doesn’t have much time remaining on his contract. Vinicius’s deal runs until June 2027, so he could negotiate with other clubs soon if Real Madrid does not make a move. A return to Flamengo would not be outlandish, given the club’s financial muscle and big signings in recent years.

Morocco could get a World Cup winner and Barcelona legend to replace Regragui.

The national team circle should be ready for the 2026 World Cup with most staff set. However, there was surprising news on Tuesday as Morocco looks ready to part ways with Walid Regragui. Reportedly, the target is a Barcelona legend as a coach.

With the defeat in the controversial AFCON final against Senegal that included a Brahim Diaz penalty miss in the final minute, the federation was reportedly not pleased with the idea of keeping Regragui as manager.

There is one name that apparently interests the executives. Xavi Hernández has begun to be mentioned in recent hours as a potential replacement, according to Marca. Getting someone who won the competition could be a major boost for the recent semifinalists.

Xavi’s career as manager

Xavi has benefited from his extraordinary playing career to quickly reach top jobs. His first coaching experience was with Al Sadd. The Qatari club where he finished his playing days gave him the chance to coach for 102 matches, resulting in 67 victories, 17 draws and 18 losses.

His next step was the club he knows best, where he replaced Ronald Koeman during a rebuilding phase at Barcelona. After a strong start that included a La Liga title and a Supercopa de España, the final stretch was less favorable.

The Spaniard left the club after 142 matches from 2021 to 2024. His record shows 89 victories, 24 draws and 29 losses before he departed. He has not coached anywhere since then.

What could stop Xavi from accepting the job?

Despite not being among the main favorites to win the World Cup, Morocco looks like a tough assignment for many coaches. Reaching the semifinals in the recent edition means the job is no longer a surprise step.

What could prevent Xavi from taking the job is the limited time he would have to prepare for the tournament. Spanish outlets say he is unlikely to take on a mid-project assignment. That could be the reason he says no, with only a few months to the most important event.