2023/24 is just around the corner & Barcelona have a crown to defend. 👑
With the competition growing stronger, it will be up to Xavi to make sure his team is ready. Fortunately, pre-season has given us a glimpse into his mind.
So, what can we learn from it? 🔎
|THREAD|
With the competition growing stronger, it will be up to Xavi to make sure his team is ready. Fortunately, pre-season has given us a glimpse into his mind.
So, what can we learn from it? 🔎
|THREAD|
Before we start, we need to address the elephant in the room. 🐘
Making big conclusions based on three friendlies is redundant; the sample is small & coaches like to keep their cards close to the chest in pre-season.
BUT, that doesn't mean we can't learn anything from it. 💡
Making big conclusions based on three friendlies is redundant; the sample is small & coaches like to keep their cards close to the chest in pre-season.
BUT, that doesn't mean we can't learn anything from it. 💡
If you are someone who would rather watch all of this with tactics boards, clips and stats than read about it, check out our YouTube channel where this same topic will be repurposed for video format!
Oh, and subscribe! 🙃
Here's the link 👇
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Oh, and subscribe! 🙃
Here's the link 👇
@BarcaFutbolLive" target="_blank" rel="noopener" onclick="event.stopPropagation()">youtube.com
The pre-season gives us a glimpse of what is to come in the near future. Nothing more, nothing less. At the end of the day, it is just that - a glimpse.
But pre-season or not, bits of coaches' tactical identities always slip through the cracks.
Even if it's for a second. ⏰
But pre-season or not, bits of coaches' tactical identities always slip through the cracks.
Even if it's for a second. ⏰
There are certain things Xavi doesn’t compromise on no matter the system, the players or the opponent.
Those are his non-negotiables; aspects of his coaching philosophy he will insist upon game after game, week in, week out.
And that's what we'll discuss here next ⏬
Those are his non-negotiables; aspects of his coaching philosophy he will insist upon game after game, week in, week out.
And that's what we'll discuss here next ⏬
During Barcelona’s preseason games, we caught a glimpse of Xavi’s non-negotiables once more.
In every game, without exception, Barcelona looked to do similar - if not the very same - things over & over again. For better or worse.
Robotic patterns, learned behaviour, coaching.
In every game, without exception, Barcelona looked to do similar - if not the very same - things over & over again. For better or worse.
Robotic patterns, learned behaviour, coaching.
Xavi's non-negotiables are:
• +1 rule/ The free man
• Triangles
• Wall passes and third-man sequences
• Deep carries
• Overload to isolate
Most concern the first & second phase because that's where Barça's repeatable actions & robotic patterns can be discerned.
• +1 rule/ The free man
• Triangles
• Wall passes and third-man sequences
• Deep carries
• Overload to isolate
Most concern the first & second phase because that's where Barça's repeatable actions & robotic patterns can be discerned.
On the other side of the coin, however, are things that seem to be a part of Xavi’s tactical identity but are more prone to change; they’re not set in stone.
In other words, they are not non-negotiable but rather far more ambiguous, uncertain. 🤔
In other words, they are not non-negotiable but rather far more ambiguous, uncertain. 🤔
Xavi's ambiguities or uncertainties (for now) are:
• Man-marking
• Final third attacking patterns
• System preference
Most concern the attacking phase because that's where Barça lack learned, robotic behaviour.
But we'll discuss both today.
Let's go 👇
• Man-marking
• Final third attacking patterns
• System preference
Most concern the attacking phase because that's where Barça lack learned, robotic behaviour.
But we'll discuss both today.
Let's go 👇
The +1 rule is simple.
Xavi’s positional mind gravitates towards establishing and exploiting superiorities.
In this instance, we are talking about ensuring the team always has at least one more player than the opposition in a given area.
We call this numerical superiority. 🔽
Xavi’s positional mind gravitates towards establishing and exploiting superiorities.
In this instance, we are talking about ensuring the team always has at least one more player than the opposition in a given area.
We call this numerical superiority. 🔽
The exact way this is accomplished varies from opponent to opponent, as we can see in all three of Barcelona’s preseason games, but the principle remains (at least) +1 at all times.
Arsenal & Milan often pressed with a single player, meaning the CBs were enough to establish +1.
Arsenal & Milan often pressed with a single player, meaning the CBs were enough to establish +1.
Real Madrid defended in a flat 4-4-2 which forced Barcelona to adapt, dropping De Jong into or just ahead of the backline, similar to what Busquets had done before.
This is a basic concept many coaches and teams use and it’s something Xavi has been using throughout his tenure.
This is a basic concept many coaches and teams use and it’s something Xavi has been using throughout his tenure.
As this was a staple in years prior and now in pre-season too, there’s reason to believe this is indeed a non-negotiable and will remain a rough constant in Barcelona’s identity. It's all about the free man.
The same can be said for triangles, something Xavi is obsessed with. 📐
The same can be said for triangles, something Xavi is obsessed with. 📐
Triangles are another basic component of positional play as they allow easier link-up.
In other words, they give the ball-carrier options & ensure the players are well-connected. But it’s not just that. Triangles are essential for Barça's progression tools from the deep areas.
In other words, they give the ball-carrier options & ensure the players are well-connected. But it’s not just that. Triangles are essential for Barça's progression tools from the deep areas.
The player at the tip of the triangle is often the one used as part of a wall pass or a third-man sequence. Essentially, they are a lay-off option to access the free man whose existence was ensured by the +1 rule.
You see, it's all connected. One enables the other. 🔄
You see, it's all connected. One enables the other. 🔄
If the +1 rule guarantees Barça always have an unmarked player, the wall pass/third-man sequence in turn ensures that option can be accessed.
Example: deep carrier -> a dropping option from a higher position -> free third party, usually out on the side.
Rinse & repeat. 👇
Example: deep carrier -> a dropping option from a higher position -> free third party, usually out on the side.
Rinse & repeat. 👇
There is a saying that states when executed properly, the third-man concept is undefendable. We can see its effects in the example above. ☝
Accessing the third man in that sequence is easy because that free player always either has a dynamic or positional advantage.
Accessing the third man in that sequence is easy because that free player always either has a dynamic or positional advantage.
This goes in hand with the other concepts, solidifying Xavi’s need for superiorities, which is possible through his non-negotiables.
There are more; some more prominent than others.
For example, deep progressions & long distributions are a big part of Xavi’s philosophy too.
There are more; some more prominent than others.
For example, deep progressions & long distributions are a big part of Xavi’s philosophy too.
Even more interesting is the fact the other three aspects enable them in the first place.
Xavi loves for his backline to progress the ball by breaking the lines via passing, yes, but carrying seems even more prioritised.
It does make sense, even if it’s inherently riskier. 🔎
Xavi loves for his backline to progress the ball by breaking the lines via passing, yes, but carrying seems even more prioritised.
It does make sense, even if it’s inherently riskier. 🔎
Carries are more effective in destabilising structures because they force the opposition’s markers to leave their position in order to collapse on the carrier.
This inevitably creates space somewhere else & a risky carry is then rewarded with a free man elsewhere on the pitch.
This inevitably creates space somewhere else & a risky carry is then rewarded with a free man elsewhere on the pitch.
Barcelona use this for their long distributions a lot.
Often, the centre-backs, if they are the free man in a given sequence, will be instructed to run with the ball and then aim for runners higher up.
Like so 👇
Often, the centre-backs, if they are the free man in a given sequence, will be instructed to run with the ball and then aim for runners higher up.
Like so 👇
But there’s more to this than just exploiting space. Ideally, Barça want to progress systematically.
However, that’s not always possible & deep carries into a long distribution sequence will be used to skip the entire phase of a game and establish a position in the final third.
However, that’s not always possible & deep carries into a long distribution sequence will be used to skip the entire phase of a game and establish a position in the final third.
This works well against highly man-marking-focused teams who won’t leave much room to access the free man.
In those cases, Barcelona almost exclusively go long, either from the backline or they recycle wide & then use the overload-to-isolate tactic, another non-negotiable.
In those cases, Barcelona almost exclusively go long, either from the backline or they recycle wide & then use the overload-to-isolate tactic, another non-negotiable.
And the further up the pitch we go, the more open to interpretation Xavi’s tactics become.
While the build-up was comparatively 'void' of improvisation, the final third tools and off-the-ball structures are (somewhat) different.
Let's see how. 🔎
While the build-up was comparatively 'void' of improvisation, the final third tools and off-the-ball structures are (somewhat) different.
Let's see how. 🔎
Interestingly, both Barcelona's defensive shape and final third tactics do have non-negotiable parts but I have reason to believe things may (need to) change in 2023/24.
Let's start with the overload to isolate, a clear favourite of Xavi's throughout his tenure.
Let's start with the overload to isolate, a clear favourite of Xavi's throughout his tenure.
You can see it in all three of Barcelona’s pre-season passmaps; they are always skewed towards one side of the pitch.
The overload-to-isolate tactic is prominent here as a long switch into an isolated winger often starts the attack and they immediately turn on the offensive.
The overload-to-isolate tactic is prominent here as a long switch into an isolated winger often starts the attack and they immediately turn on the offensive.
This is a prominent part of both the build-up play, albeit one that often skips an entire phase, and the final third sequence, which is highly vertical and direct too.
But is it going to continue? Or rather, should it continue? 🤔
But is it going to continue? Or rather, should it continue? 🤔
Barcelona used to mainly be skewed towards the left but with Dembele's exit and the rise of Balde as the great outlet, the left could now also be seen as the isolated side moving forward.
We can already see it in some of the passmaps, too.
But the loss of Dembele is huge here.
We can already see it in some of the passmaps, too.
But the loss of Dembele is huge here.
This voids them of their best space exploiter.
Balde can be the replacement but with a different final third arsenal.
Similarly, Raphinha is an option but he remains better utilised in a minimum-width setup rather than being forced to cover a lot of ground & sticking wide. 🤷
Balde can be the replacement but with a different final third arsenal.
Similarly, Raphinha is an option but he remains better utilised in a minimum-width setup rather than being forced to cover a lot of ground & sticking wide. 🤷
All of that puts this aspect under question, meaning it dances on the edge of the non-negotiable category & dips into the ambiguity or uncertainty area.
Food for thought, perhaps? 🤔
Food for thought, perhaps? 🤔
But this is true of most of Barcelona’s attacking tools.
Essentially, there isn’t much here in terms of clear robotic sequences; no learned behaviour as such or real patterns. Even the systems themselves are somewhat vague.
Box or no box? Wingers or full-backs? Lots to digest!
Essentially, there isn’t much here in terms of clear robotic sequences; no learned behaviour as such or real patterns. Even the systems themselves are somewhat vague.
Box or no box? Wingers or full-backs? Lots to digest!
That said, there are some certainties in the final third, though:
• Half-space penetrators
• Combinatory striker(s)
Generally, Xavi doesn’t force his strikers to attack space as much, instead opting for a more combinatory role that can help eject other runners from the team.
• Half-space penetrators
• Combinatory striker(s)
Generally, Xavi doesn’t force his strikers to attack space as much, instead opting for a more combinatory role that can help eject other runners from the team.
It has to be noted, however, that Robert Lewandowski tends to drop deep and stay there longer, registering more touches and often trying to either outplay the opponent or win a foul while someone like Ferran Torres drops, plays a simple lay-off and then bursts back into space.
But even with some certainties mentioned here, the loss of Dembele, the absence of robotic patterns and Barcelona’s remaining activity in the transfer window mean their final third dynamics are very much an uncertainty at this point.
But what about that pressing, then? 🤔
But what about that pressing, then? 🤔
In pre-season, not much seemed to have changed; Barça were still man-oriented when hunting for recoveries & the opposition were more or less successful at exploiting it depending on their own technical & tactical qualities.
In that sense, this is still a non-negotiable.
But...
In that sense, this is still a non-negotiable.
But...
With the introduction of Romeu, a player more astute in defending space rather than marking the man, & Gundogan, a physically declining player whose legs may not accommodate such a tactic, something is bound to give.
In fact, we saw glimpses of a more hybrid structure already.
In fact, we saw glimpses of a more hybrid structure already.
When pressing high, Barcelona were still man-oriented but in deeper blocks, those priorities seem to have changed at times.
The structure was more zonal with every player in charge of defending his area & dealing with any threats accordingly, if and when they entered his zone.
The structure was more zonal with every player in charge of defending his area & dealing with any threats accordingly, if and when they entered his zone.
For now, it’s very difficult to say whether we can expect to see more of it moving forward but there is reason to believe that may be the case. Why?
It's more effective, more sustainable & also, it gives Barcelona a better chance for the holy grail: Control.
Let me explain. 👇
It's more effective, more sustainable & also, it gives Barcelona a better chance for the holy grail: Control.
Let me explain. 👇
The more spent and more aggressive a team is off the ball, the more difficult it is for them to instil calm & security immediately upon recovering possession.
This is both a physical and mental exercise for the players. And it shows in how they play.
This is both a physical and mental exercise for the players. And it shows in how they play.
It's a physical toll which requires insane fitness levels to sustain - limiting what one can do on a technical/retention level following the recovery - but also requires an entirely different mindset in each of the phases respectively.
@thewittyjack explained it perfectly above.
@thewittyjack explained it perfectly above.
@thewittyjack Players are in a chaotic state of mind when engaging in duels while the requirements following a successful defensive phase are (often) the very opposite.
It’s a sudden shift not many can consistently execute.
And inconsistency in one aspect breads inconsistency in the other.
It’s a sudden shift not many can consistently execute.
And inconsistency in one aspect breads inconsistency in the other.
@thewittyjack Meaning, the more duels you have to engage in, the less technically sound you are and the less technically sound you are, the more duels you need to engage in.
It’s a vicious cycle which dilutes the team’s ability to control a game.
And Barça are its victim. Often.
It’s a vicious cycle which dilutes the team’s ability to control a game.
And Barça are its victim. Often.
@thewittyjack As I finish, let me state again: these are not big conclusions based on three friendlies; these are observations of Xavi's tactical identity regardless of the event, opponent or the players.
They are prone to change but for now, they describe how he likes to operate.
They are prone to change but for now, they describe how he likes to operate.
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