He is used to defending his players and justifying the game in difficult games that ended 1-0, a result that was repeated up to eleven times in the last league, with -0 against easy rivals such as Betis and Antwerp . “We showed the best level of play since I was coach,” said the coach after the European premiere in Montjuïc.
Xavi joined Barça in November 2021 and since then there have been so many squad changes – 18 signings and 34 departures – that only eight players remain: Ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña, Sergi Roberto, Araujo, De Jong, Pedri, Gavi and Balde. who yesterday extended his contract until 2008. Araujo and Pedri were two of the main players who declared the victory of the last league and the Supercup. Both are now injured and did not take part in Barcelona’s good start.
The jump in quality was confirmed by the possession of João Félix and João Cancelo and the recovery of Gündogan, three summer signings along with Iñigo Martínez and Oriol Romeu, the only one for whom a transfer fee of 3.4 million was due, such a significant figure such as reducing the salary bill by 161 million to 404 million. Agent Jorge Mendes and sporting director Deco were just as crucial in integrating Cancelo and João Félix as Xavi was in selecting and convincing Gündogan.
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“It fell from the sky for us, it’s the superlative; “The game improves every time Gündogan touches the ball,” emphasizes the Barça coach. Like Cancelo, the German comes from Guardiola’s Manchester City, just as Romeu was trained at La Masia. The connection with the Barça school would explain the quick adaptation of the three to Xavi’s team. Although it was known that he wanted to play for Barcelona, the surprise was more the performance of João Félix, who scored three goals and two assists against Betis and Antwerp.
Starting from the false left winger position, João Félix connects from the outside in with midfielders and strikers and finishes effectively, while João Cancelo not only addresses a structural deficit in the right wing back position, but also gives him the opportunity through his expansive wave there is to play in the center and center half alongside Romeu and De Jong. The Portuguese are crucial in creating situations of superiority in a core team that is complemented by Gündogan and Gavi.
Usually near the penalty area, the former City captain excels in his play between the lines, is excellent at passing and is even more determined in Pedri’s absence. Barça has regained some of the offensive flow lost without Messi. The Gündogan-João Félix-Cancelo association also allowed Gavi to express himself as the insider he always was, rather than occupying the wing, and allowed Lewandowski to stop complaining about the lack of opportunities and instead get to grips with it Goal to rediscover: 4.
Not only Lewandowski, but also Ferran Torres and Raphinha have shown interesting performances at the start of the 2023-2024 season. The new signings appear to have had a therapeutic effect on some well-known footballers lost to Barcelona. The changes have also strengthened De Jong, a midfielder who pushes boundaries with his attacks, and allowed Lamine Yamal to cope better after playing in Luis de la Fuente’s team.
There has been an increase in talent and therefore the team has ingenuity and resources, more joy and goals, improved flexibility and speed and there is also more competition for ownership, a deciding factor for ambition and a problem for Xavi when it comes to to manage the ego of a team desperate to compare its growth with the league’s and Europe’s major rivals. The challenge is to maintain continuity in the face of adversity and difficulty, having satisfied Betis and Antwerp.
“We don’t know what we’re going to win, but we’re sure we’ll have a better time,” they agreed in the dressing room after confirming that, in Barça’s case, you defend better when you attack well.
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