Pressure Mounts on Xavi Hernandez As Barcelona Prepare for Porto in UEFA Champions League

• Barcelona's poor performances this season have seen the pressure mount on Xavi Hernandez
• Joan Laporta has publicly backed Xavi despite recent reports that his job is currently in jeopardy
• Barcelona next face Porto in the UEFA Champions League, with Xavi's side needing to pick up a win

The pressure is mounting on Xavi Hernandez.

The Barcelona manager reached new highs with the club last season but has found the goings a bit more difficult this time around.

Barcelona are fourth in La Liga after 14 games, trailing Real Madrid by four points. They also trail Atletico Madrid and Girona, who both have a game in hand over the Catalan club.

With Barcelona next facing Porto in the UEFA Champions League, pressure is reportedly on the manager to produce results. The Blaugrana are at the top of the group but have Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk chasing them down.

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Barcelona and Porto are on nine points, with Shakhtar on six. All three sides have two more games to play.

Laporta publicly supports Xavi

While reports indicate that Xavi could be in trouble, Barca president Joan Laporta has thrown his support behind the former player turned managed.

As noted by ESPN, Laporta recently backed the manager, saying that he has the full support of the board as well.

"I want to make it very clear, just as Barca sporting director Deco and the directors of my board have, that we are completely on the side of our coach and that we are proud to have Xavi as coach for his professional and human quality," Laporta said.

Despite the public backing, it hasn’t stopped the rumours from doing the rounds that the club were looking for a new manager.

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Xavi questions Barcelona's player's mentality

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is not happy with the mentality of his players, demanding more from them.

His comments come after a run of poor performances, domestically and in Europe, Sports Brief reported.

The former midfielder was very critical of the performance of his team, questioning the mentality of his players.