FC Barcelona are renowned across the world for the style of football that they have immortalized. From the days of Johan Cruyff to the mastery of positional play under Pep Guardiola, Barça have become synonymous with the attractive football that they have played over the decades.
Even today, a student of Cruyff’s philosophies and Guardiola’s tactics, Xavi Hernandez, is at Barça’s helm. The Spanish manager remains a strong believer in those principles that make Barcelona what it is. However, having to facilitate a pragmatic approach to certain games has not been beyond him either.
Determined Barcelona
As highlighted by SPORT, Barcelona have begun to show that rather snappish style of play again. Against Athletic Bilbao, it was one goal that separated both sides. Similarly, even the match against Porto was won courtesy of one goal. Prior to that, the victory against Sevilla once again came through a singular goal.
Away from their roots
This type of mental fortitude and rugged style of play is quite effective at times. However, Barcelona is a club that is expected to go beyond just winning. They are expected to play attractive, tantalizing football while doing so. That is why at times, Xavi’s Barcelona winning by narrow margins is a topic of criticism.
Last season’s success
Even last season, the domestic success achieved by Barcelona came as a result of their defensive rigidity. The backline alongside an in-form Ter Stegen ensured that Barça conceded as few goals as possible, breaking several defensive records in the process.
In terms of numbers, the 2022/23 season saw Barcelona end games with a 1-0 scoreline on 11 different occasions. Five of those matches came at home while the other five came away from Camp Nou.
While it is not a bad tactic objectively, it is still disconnected from the Barcelona way of playing. Dominating games, outscoring opponents, and making sure the fans are entertained, that is what Barça is synonymous with.
Despite the disloyalty to that typical way of playing, Xavi can not be criticized too heavily keeping in mind that several of his key players are currently sidelined due to various injuries and are in recovery. He has shown in the past to be capable of managing a team full of his primary players and putting up a display worthy of the Barcelona name with them.
