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As we transfer into a brand new technology of coaches, Xavi Hernandez did what elevated the final technology. He gained trophies. To reclaim the league for Barcelona in his first full season is a powerful feat, particularly since Actual Madrid had been European champions.
There was perhaps some debate about the way in which it occurred. Xavi got here by means of Barcelona, was skilled by Pep Guardiola and deeply is aware of the basic possession sport, but it surely’s in all probability honest to say this didn’t have all the weather of such rules in the way in which individuals anticipate. There have been plenty of 1-0s. The workforce was very robust in defence. It was additionally much more vertical, with Robert Lewandowski additionally a profile of centre-forward that Barcelona haven’t had in a while.
I believe that explains a bit about how the workforce performed, in addition to the truth that it was solely that first full season. I believe yearly Xavi will enhance as a coach, which is why it’s so encouraging to already win.
Whilst regards the variety of 1-0 scorelines, Barcelona nonetheless had plenty of probabilities to attain extra and plenty of choices to win video games. There was an actual consistency.
Having Lewandowski in fact means you need to play nearer to aim, he’s about rebounds and probabilities. It’s been a very long time since Barcelona have had that. Luis Suarez and Samuel Eto’o had been extra about attacking the areas. Lewandowski is extra about management within the space. Meaning he’s higher with extensive gamers, notably these like Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha who’re so good one on one and have an efficient cross.
That did feed into one different change that made Barcelona extra vertical, although, in that just one such winger was used. Given how a lot tempo Alejandro Balde has, Xavi determined to depart all the left facet to the full-back by placing Gavi on the left facet of the assault. Guardiola did truly do one thing related with Andres Iniesta earlier than and it labored very properly. Whereas Balde eats up a lot of the pitch, Gavi would come inside, that means defenders had a troublesome choice in whether or not to mark him or Lewandowski.
A few of this was additionally due to the variety of central midfielders that Barcelona do have. You possibly can’t play everybody collectively but it surely’s about making it match. On that, Frenkie de Jong deserves enormous credit score as a result of he tailored very properly, particularly after the strain of all of the hypothesis round his future from the summer season.
All of this additionally performed into that wonderful defensive file. There are plenty of methods to not concede and amongst them are possession and to have the ball very excessive. Xavi did this and it was a method this Barcelona was so just like Guardiola. The defence are all very snug taking part in with plenty of house behind them. There may be the bodily capability to get again and you may be assured in taking part in excessive.
(Getty Pictures)
The one nice query in all of that is what occurred to the Champions League, after a group-stage elimination. It perhaps seems somewhat completely different with Internazionale having received to the ultimate.
It was additionally only a completely different stage to the season. Gamers like Balde hadn’t exploded but, and Xavi had the principle downside of not with the ability to play the identical defence in Europe.
I believe if the Champions League marketing campaign had began in January, they’d be there, with the potential to do properly.
It now must be the target for subsequent season, as I’d anticipate the workforce to evolve extra underneath Xavi. There’s an extended trajectory.
A title this early, nevertheless, can’t be underestimated.
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