11 players out with injuries and more: What Barca looked like when Xavi took over

Xavi arrived at Barcelona at a very complicated period last year.

Here is what it meant for him back then, as per Barca Universal.

"11 players out with injuries; no international players [Xavi came during the international break], no pre-season [the season began with Ronald Koeman], danger of not making it through the Champions League group; Barca 9th in La Liga; a lower salary than at Al Sadd; no signings; the club in financial ruin."

The only thing Xavi failed to fix is the Champions League progress. Barcelona didn't qualify for the last 16 and dropped to the Europa League where they got eliminated as well.

Other than that, Barca's rise is undoubted. They managed to finish 2nd in La Liga, beat all of Spain's top teams in the second half of the season and even sign a few players – which is partly Xavi's merit too.

As Xavi himself said, it could've been a much worse season!