Outgoing manager of Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez, says his successor would suffer when he takes charge of the club because “it is a complicated place to be” and must be patient to succeed.

The 44-year-old was sacked by Barcelona last week, exactly one month after the club hierarchy convinced the Spaniard to backtrack from his initial decision of leaving the club at the end of the just concluded season.

Speaking about the situation his successor would encounter when he is appointed, Xavi said, “to the new manager, I tell you: ‘You will suffer’. This is a very complicated place to be. This is a difficult job and you have to be patient.”

“I have the feeling that everything I have done in these two and a half years has caused an earthquake,” he said. “I have been targeted many times in many situations,” he said.

Xavi led Barcelona to the La Liga title triumph in his first full season in charge of the club after being appointed as the manager in November 2021 but that could not save his job as he finished 10 points behind Real Madrid in the 2023/24 season.

“I have the feeling that everything I have done in these two and a half years has caused an earthquake,” he said. “I have been targeted many times in many situations.” “It’s so difficult to coach Barcelona,” he added.

Meanwhile, German coach Hansi Flick is expected to replace Xavi at Barcelona. He is expected to be in Barcelona tomorrow to sign his contract as the new Barça manager on Wednesday, renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano reported.

Flick, who has been out of job since he was sacked as the head coach of the Germany national team in 2023, will sign a deal valid until June 2026.