"Why is he so obsessed", "How long do we keep suffering" - Fans call out Xavi for including veteran Barcelona star in XI to face Rayo Vallecano
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has named his starting lineup to face Rayo Vallecano in their final home game in Montjuic on Sunday, May 19. However, fans are unhappy with his starting XI and have been vocal about their frustrations on X (formerly Twitter).
Fans are especially angry about including Sergi Roberto, who has mostly been a benched player and has had an underwhelming season for the club. The midfielder has started just eight games for the club and has been underwhelming in his gameplay, especially his defensive input.
One fan criticized Xavi for not including Andreas Christensen. Some others mocked Xavi's obsession with the Spanish player and alleged 'emotional' man-management.
"How long we keep suffering from Roberto? Isn’t this pathetic? Sole reason why I hate [expletive] Xavi. He love mediocrity and is emotional manager," one fan commented on X.
Other comments included:
Besides Roberto, Ilkay Gundogan and Fermin Lopez have been included in the midfield. Meanwhile, Joao Cancelo, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde make up Barca's defensive lineup. The front three consist of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano head-to-head
Barcelona are currently second in the La Liga table with 79 points, while Rayo Vallecano sit at #15 with 38 points to their name.
The Catalan side boasts an impressive record against Rayo and have won 15 out of their last 26 matches against the club. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano have won six of those encounters, and two of them resulted in a draw.
The Catalan giants have been hot and cold this season by their lofty standards. However, the Catalan club managed a convincing 2-0 win against Almeria last weekend and will be looking to repeat the performance this time.
Their opponents also achieved a 2-1 victory against Granada. They will be looking to cause an upset tonight and climb up the league table ahead of the final matchday.