Barcelona manager Xavi insists his team still have a chance of winning La Liga despite falling eight points behind the current leaders.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Barca won 12 of their 19 La Liga matchesSit eight points behind leaders GironaCoach says they can still win the divisionWHAT HAPPENED?

Reigning Spanish champions Barcelona have dropped points on seven occasions – drawing five games and losing two – in La Liga this season, leaving them adrift of shock leaders Girona and seven behind Real Madrid. Despite his team's unconvincing results, the coach is confident they can claw their way back up the table.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT XAVI SAID

Xavi told reporters: "We face the second half of the season full of optimism. The situation is not easy, it is a tough one because there’s a big gap between us and Madrid or Girona. But we think coming back from it to win La Liga is a doable thing, and we’ll try it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Camp Nou team's disappointing performances have sparked reports that Xavi is facing the sack. The former midfielder insisted that he will step down if he gets the sense that his players do not have faith in him. He said: "The day my players no longer follow me, I'll pack my bags and leave. When someone tells me there's a problem, I'll leave."

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Catalan side will hope to avoid falling further behind Girona and Madrid this week when they take on Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday.