Barcelona reportedly intend to retain the services of head coach Xavi for the foreseeable future.

Last season, the club legend was able to end Real Madrid's recent dominance by winning the La Liga title, less than a year after Barcelona had been able to benefit from using economical levers.

However, while that temporary extra leeway with their finances helped in the short term, the Catalan giants already look unlikely to defend their top-flight crown in 2023-24.

Albeit sitting in third position, Barcelona are eight points adrift of leaders Girona and Real having won just 13 of their 20 league fixtures.

Furthermore, Barcelona were dumped out of the Copa del Rey in midweek after losing 4-2 to Athletic Bilbao, with that viewed as a missed opportunity with Girona and Real also out of the competition.

Barcelona have now reached a point where they have lost four of their last 11 matches in all competitions, keeping just one clean sheet during that period.

Reports have indicated that pressure is beginning to mount on Xavi, despite the circumstances that he is working under and the amount of youngsters that he has promoted to the first-team setup when he is unable to sign new players.

The 44-year-old has insisted that he will take the decision to walk away from the dugout should he feel that he has 'lost the dressing room' - as some reports have claimed - or that he cannot take Barcelona forward.

Nevertheless, according to SPORT, club officials would prefer not to part ways with Xavi, at least in the short term.

The Barcelona hierarchy allegedly want to ensure that there is a certain level of stability at a time when it remains crucial that Barcelona qualify for next season's Champions League.

While that can be achieved by winning this season's competition, Barcelona only hold a three-point advantage over fifth in the La Liga table, their most realistic route being through claiming fourth.

President Joan Laporta is said to intend to retain the services of Xavi as long as Barcelona do not drop out of the aforementioned positions.

A favourable run of fixtures is upcoming in La Liga, with three of their next four outings being against Villarreal, Osasuna and Granada at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. body check tags ::