With FC Barcelona seemingly set for a second successive group-stage elimination from the UEFA Champions League, manager Xavi Hernandez has now made a bold admission about his future in the club's helm.
The Blaugrana suffered a bitter 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Real Madrid in ElClasico on Sunday, while their results in the Champions League this season have also left a lot to be desired as their fate in the competition is now no longer in their own hands.
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Barca have picked up only four points from their four matches in Group C, and trail second-placed Inter Milan by three points with two matches remaining, including a tie against Bayern Munich.
In order for them to advance, the Catalan giants would need to win their game against the Bavarians and hope Inter lose to minnows Viktoria Plzen on matchday five to set up a potential decider on the last game of the group phase.
With the club now finding themselves needing favourable permutations to progress in the UCL, despite having invested heavily in new signings in the latest transfer window, manager Xavi has now admitted he would not argue if he was dismissed from the club's hot seat.
"Of course," Xavi replied when asked if he would understand if Barcelona decided to sack him, according to SPORT.
"This is football. The people in the street put up their fists to me in support.
"Now we have to continue and face up to reality but I'm always positive.
"I won't lie to you. Barca is about winning and achieving titles.
"The situation is not the best. We started brilliantly but this doesn't stop me.
"We have to go step by step. We must try to improve. Between success and failure there is sometimes very little.
"They're small details but we have to do more things.
"I must be honest with the club, the players and fans. I am still very excited. Everyone is supporting me, it feels like a family member has died with all the messages I have received.
"There is no such thing as a transition year for Barcelona. We have to go for titles.
"If we don't, there will be consequences and maybe they are for myself.
"I don't want to look for excuses."
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Various reports in Spain suggest that elimination from the UCL would be a huge and disappointing blow for the club, who sold off 25% of their LaLiga TV rights for the next 25 years in order to improve their squad with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Jules Kounde, among others.
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