Barcelona sacked manager Ronald Koeman following a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano. It was their second consecutive loss and another game in which they failed to score away from home.
The top candidate to take over is former club legend Xavi Hernandez. However, a deal has yet to be reached with Xavi or with his current side Al Saad.
Therefore, until Xavi arrives, an interim manager will be in charge for the weekend fixture against Alaves and perhaps the Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv.
Sergi Barjuan makes the jump from Barca B to Barcelona
The person set for the caretaker role is Barça B’s Sergi Barjuan. Initially it was rumored Albert Capellas would be the one to take over.
Not Sergi Barjuan, but Albert Capellas could become the coach until Xavi's arrival. [ara]
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 28, 2021
The club issued a statement confirming it would be Barjuan and he will be accompanied by his assistant. They made it clear he would only be the first team coach until they found a replacement for Koeman.
Barjuan has only been at Barcelona for a couple months as he was brought in by Joan Laporta, in a rather controversial move, when he fired Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta.
He hasn’t had the best of time with Barça B as they languish in eleventh place with only 13 points. They’ve won three, drawn four and lost twice.
The best case scenario is Xavi arrives in time for the match against Kyiv. Though the most probable timeline is he won’t coach his first game as new Barcelona boss until after the international break.
Supporters have long clamored for the return of Xavi and he himself has lobbied for the position in the past. It was only a matter of time before it happened. It could have happened during the last international break had Laporta not been talked out of sacking Koeman then.
What’s done is done and Xavi is set to return once a deal between him and Barcelona is reached. Barjuan will serve as a bridge, so to speak, until the time comes.