We're not in 2024. Yes Xabi still has potential but just as he made Florian Wirtz untouchable at Leverkusen, he made Mbappe untouchable at Real Madrid. Moments before he was sacked, he started using Rodrygo and Vini in his games. He preferred Mastantuono over Endrick. They even managed a narrow victory against a mid team in Copa del Rey and he wanted to start the injured Mbappe in that match. He became Mbappe's sycophant during this period. Enzo is highly likely to leave the team. Chelsea lacks real leadership. Reece James is constantly injured. Garnacho and Delap are terrible. I wish Xabi had patiently waited for Liverpool's offer. His career will decline at Chelsea.
I get what you mean, and I do think his man-management skills deserves a big question mark atm, just as I've said in a prev ask. If he goes to Chelsea and the same pattern repeats itself aka he has no authority over the dressing room, then yes, shit could get fucked very fast. But that right there is an IF.
I also don't think Real Madrid and Chelsea pose the same problem. Real Madrid is so unique, it is singularly the most difficult club to coach in football history (many Madridistas would agree). There's them superstars who behave like kindergarteners and throw a fit when they're not playing to their own liking, there's the shithouse nutrition & fitness team who are bullying colleagues and giving everyone on the team ACLs, there's Papa Flo doing fuck all besides counting cash, and then there's Marca spewing trash day in day out. Very normal working conditions, obviously. Chelsea, for all that Clearlake has zero understanding of football, is still better than THAT. Yes there's instability, disciplinary problems, a lack of structure, and a shit squad. Well, remember when it was 2023 and Leverkusen was shit too? He managed it in Leverkusen, and he no doubt would have made something good at Real, if the club actually backed him properly (which they won't because they're Real Madrid). If memory serves me right he left with a win rate over 70%, even slightly higher than Carlo, which, in the long run, would definitely have won at least one trophy.
Xabi might not be the solution, but he is NOT the problem.
The summer window hasn't happened, we don't know who leaves, who comes in, what authority he'll have, or what the squad will look like. I understand your concern, because I'm worried too, but maybe we can let the man actually start the job before declaring that he's fucked it.
(I personally am not a fan of Liverpool and tolerated their games this season solely for Flo Wirtz, so forgive me if I don't feel extremely terrible about this unfortunate timing of events. I'd still support Xabi if he went to Liverpool, though, so either way works for me.)
