Lets talk about Xavi’s approach for our win against Real Madrid.
Unorthodox, some might say. A tactical masterclass is the real answer. The quality of the players will always affect the level of a team, and Barca was missing four key players. The reality.
Unorthodox, some might say. A tactical masterclass is the real answer. The quality of the players will always affect the level of a team, and Barca was missing four key players. The reality.
Not just against any team. One of the best teams in the world, who last week dismantled Liverpool away from home.
We had to go up against them at Bernabeu without our best dribbler, goalscorer and creator.
Xavi accepted a few things.
We had to go up against them at Bernabeu without our best dribbler, goalscorer and creator.
Xavi accepted a few things.
He accepted that we were not going to be able to keep possession like we usually do due to lack of quality. He also accepted that we would concede chance after chance if we opened up and tried to ‘match’ Real Madrid. What did he do? Adapted to the circumstances.
Possession with purpose is the name of the game. Ultimately, you don’t want possession for the sake of having possession. There must be a purpose to it.
If we tried to keep the ball, only to lose it time after time, it would have defeated the purpose.
If we tried to keep the ball, only to lose it time after time, it would have defeated the purpose.
However, we still kept the ball, it was ‘when’ that was the key. Risk & reward.
Xavi started four midfielders - not to play beautiful attacking football, but to ensure compactness in midfield. Deny Real Madrid space & force them out wide.
Xavi started four midfielders - not to play beautiful attacking football, but to ensure compactness in midfield. Deny Real Madrid space & force them out wide.
The players made a huge sacrifice. They ran their socks off. Defending is done as a team, and it starts with the striker. Every player defended heroically. Our back four was flawless. Defending in a low block vs Real Madrid at Bernabeu is exhausting - physically and mentally.
When the referee blew the whistle, Real Madrid had 0 shots on target. Although that’s not best way to measure chances created, Real Madrid generated few threatening situations where they were close to scoring. We prevented that.
I would even argue that Barca had the three best goalscoring opportunities of the game:
• Our goal.
• Raphinha’s cross which should have found Ferran on point blank.
• Kessie’s shot blocked by Ansu Fati.
• Our goal.
• Raphinha’s cross which should have found Ferran on point blank.
• Kessie’s shot blocked by Ansu Fati.
A tactical masterclass by Xavi? Well, a coach can only do so much. He can’t control his player’s actions. His job is to increase the chance of his team scoring, while decreasing the chance of the other team scoring. That’s all he can do, then hope it’s enough for a win.
That’s what Xavi did, and yesterday we won. Real Madrid dominated most of the game in possession, but were they ever closer than Barca to scoring? No, they were not.
Barca deserved to win. No doubt about it.
Barca deserved to win. No doubt about it.
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