After an impressive start in La Liga this season, coach Xavi and his students began to feel the difficulty as they continuously dropped important points, causing the “Catalan Giant” to drop. 3rd place on the rankings. Barcelona gradually revealed more weaknesses for the opponent to exploit.
Barcelona lost many pillars due to different injuries.
The Spanish strategist has reasons to justify the club’s recent poor performances, when a series of pillars suffered all kinds of injuries. Since the beginning of September, Barcelona has never been able to play with its strongest team, and of course that is beyond the calculations of the teacher born in 1980.
From Frenkie De Jong, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Raphinha to Robert Lewandowski or Jules Kounde, they all play an important role in the way the 43-year-old coach operates. Except for the Dutch midfielder, the remaining names are all trying to race against time to recover before Barcelona faces Real Madrid on October 28.
For financial reasons, the transfer budget of “Los Blaugrana” did not allow them to spend heavily at the last summer market. Therefore, the backup plans that coach Xavi has on the bench cannot make the fans feel secure. About 10 years ago, Oriol Romeu or Inigo Martinez could not be registered, but it is likely that both will start in the upcoming El Clasico.
Without Frenkie De Jong, Barcelona loses a classy “ball-taker”.. Without Pedri, they can only rely on Ilkay Gundogan. The German midfielder is a quality addition, but can the 32-year-old player “dissolve the conflict” between Real Madrid’s front line that combines both class and youth?
Barca fans can only pray, hoping Robert Lewandowski can return in time because Ferran Torres is not a big star to look forward to in key matches. Imagine the scenario of Marcos Alonso racing with Rodrygo on the left wing if Alejandro Balde could not start.
Coach Xavi hopes that Barcelona will have the return of a few stars.
Barcelona needs to win El Clasico, not just to level the score gap on the rankings. It is also a big boost for coach Xavi and his team in the race to win La Liga this season. If they fail at home, it will be like a bucket of cold water that Real Madrid throws on the ambitions of the “Catalan Giant”.
Xavi must learn how to prepare rice and fish sauce, because Barcelona’s current situation cannot improve overnight. He needs his students to try and put in more effort, at least until the pillars return. Otherwise, they will soon be removed from the championship race.
Huy Truong | 05:24 October 22, 2023
