CGTN Sports Talk: Why did Klopp, Xavi decide to step down?

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-28/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Why-did-Klopp-Xavi-decide-to-step-down–1qJz4BJZSGQ/img/52e760b5d48f41238ce1480d6364f496/52e760b5d48f41238ce1480d6364f496.jpeg' alt=''

It’s not rare for football heavyweights to part ways with their managers at the end of a season, but such breakups don’t happen in the middle of the season very often, not to mention twice within three days.

Jurgen Klopp announced that he will leave Liverpool after the 2023-24 season because he is running out of energy after working in the position for over eight years. Judging by the club’s performance under him, he is their best manager in the past 30 years.

Xavi is in his third season as Barca’s manager. Though they didn’t perform well in the UEFA Champions League, the team won their first La Liga title in four seasons during the 2022-23 campaign.

Where do the two managers’ departures leave the two clubs after the 2023-24 season?

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-28/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Why-did-Klopp-Xavi-decide-to-step-down–1qJz4BJZSGQ/img/f8c1f0727fa24a668b489a481f247bf8/f8c1f0727fa24a668b489a481f247bf8.jpeg' alt='Xavi Hernandez, manager of Barcelona, gestures during the La Liga game against Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, January 27, 2024. /CFP '<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-28/CGTN-Sports-Talk-Why-did-Klopp-Xavi-decide-to-step-down–1qJz4BJZSGQ/img/cb82c1ea3d6748149e253736eaa54d20/cb82c1ea3d6748149e253736eaa54d20.jpeg' alt='Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, gestures during the Premier League game against Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, England, March 7, 2020. /CFP'

Host: Li Xiang

Guests: Josh McNally

Cover designer: Feng Yuan