PETE JENSON: Xavi has earned the right to carry on as Barcelona manager

Barcelona president Joan Laporta was close to tears in his Thursday lunchtime press conference that confirmed Xavi is staying into next season.

‘We have a coach who is an extraordinary person; who loves Barcelona and transmits that with enthusiasm, confidence and generosity,’ said Laporta whilst choking up with emotion. ‘Barca fans should be proud of him.’

There was no shortage of emotion during his appearance sat next to Xavi at the club's Joan Gamper training ground.

There were also plenty of outward signs of unity with director of football Deco, other board members and the rest of Xavi’s coaching staff posing for a group photograph. Everyone was doing their best to put a positive spin on what has been a bizarre twist to a trophy-less season.

But the narrative that Xavi has simply changed his mind about leaving and that the club, who never wanted him to leave in the first place, are delighted he's staying, still seems lacking in credibility.

In the end there were other factors a play, most notably that Barcelona’s financial plight made it impossible for them to attract a top replacement. When they looked at the realistic alternatives keeping Xavi became the no-brainer.

The coach and the club agreed to part company at the end of last January after a 5-3 home defeat by Villarreal. It remains unclear if Xavi quit or if he was told he would be fired and so requested he stay until the end of the season. ‘I let him because of who he is,’ said Laporta aferwards indicating it was the latter.

Barcelona then went on a run of 11 games unbeaten, while in the background, attempts to line-up a replacement led nowhere. Jurgen Klopp committed to a sabbatical after he leaves Liverpool. Luis Enrique said he would be interested were it not