The World No 1s quest for a record-breaking eighth world snooker title was shattered by Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre this week
sports17 hours ago
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said it was a "magnificent feeling" as he clinched his first La Liga title as manager of the club where he won eight as a player, ending a four-year drought for the Catalan giant.
Xavi's side wrapped up the title after two first-half goals from Robert Lewandowski spurred them to a 4-2 win against city rivals Espanyol on Sunday.
Barcelona was last champion of Spain in the 2018-19 season when it had club greats Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez spearheading the attack.
Yet as the club fell into a deep financial crisis, both had to leave and the team's fortunes declined.
Yet Xavi has guided them back to the summit less than two years after he returned to the club to replace Ronald Koeman in November 2021 and he said wrapping up the title was crucial for their future.
"We are left with a magnificent feeling, more than 10 months of work, of sacrifice. It has been an extraordinary job," Xavi told Movistar Plus.
"For the fans, for the club, winning it was vital for the stability of the project, we must continue on this path.
"This League means that we are doing things very well, this gives us stability, although we still have the unfinished business of European competition."
Barca has failed to get past the last 16 in the Champions League for the last three seasons.
After a glorious run from 2005-19 when the club won four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga championships, Barcelona has reached the semis of Europe's elite club competition just once since lifting the title in 2014-15.
This season, however, it has enjoyed an outstanding domestic campaign, having beaten bitter rival Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and won La Liga with four games to spare.
The World No 1s quest for a record-breaking eighth world snooker title was shattered by Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre this week
sports17 hours ago
The Gunners have a chance at least to apply some pressure by beating Bournemouth in the early kick-off at the Emirates on Saturday
sports20 hours ago
The Blues chiefs risk backlash from disgruntled fanbase with transfer stance on the England midfielder
sports20 hours ago
Spearheaded by Tunisian Lazzez, 971 Fighting Championship is a unique and innovative MMA entertainment brand
sports1 day ago
Notable Speech and Tarifa lead an army of contenders in major Classic contests at Newmarket, England and Churchill Downs, America
sports1 day ago
Imyoung Ma and Minkeong Kim hold on to clinch second place on a countback at the Majlis Course
sports1 day ago
The Polish player enters another chapter in his career at this week’s LIV Golf Singapore
sports1 day ago
The UAE won 96 gold, 103 silver and 97 bronze medals as they secured their position at the top of the standings
sports1 day ago