Barcelona boss Xavi fighting to keep dressing room - sources - ESPN

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández is fighting to keep the players onside with a section of the first-team squad losing faith in him, several sources have told ESPN.

Barça were beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final on Sunday, but sources say the disillusionment predates that humbling Clásico defeat in Saudi Arabia.

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Several players have been questioning the team's approach for a while. They are also annoyed that Xavi said they have not been able to adapt to Barça's style of play.

One source said not all the players share the same opinion, but that some feel he has not been as tough on certain members of the squad.

A source close to Xavi insists the coach's feeling is that the players are still with him while acknowledging there is always the possibility someone is unhappy within a 20-player squad.

They recognise results have not been as expected so far this season, but say Xavi has been happy with the behaviour and attitude shown by the entire team. The 3-2 win over Almeria before Christmas was labelled by one source as a «turning point» in the relationship between the players and the manager.

Xavi said after that game that he gave his harshest-ever team talk at half-time as Barça laboured to a victory with an 83rd-minute winner from Sergi Roberto against LaLiga's bottom club, who remain winless this season.

However, while that moment has been singled out, doubts set in before as Barça suffered defeats in LaLiga against Madrid and Girona and in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.

Xavi has said in several news conferences that he believes the relationship with his players remains positive. Speaking after the defeat to Madrid on