One of the clearest weaknesses in the current FC Barcelona squad is the lack of a competent and natural midfield pivot. Sergio Busquets left the club at the end of the last season, and the Catalans brought in Oriol Romeu to replace him, but the former Girona midfielder has left a lot to be desired in his game.
As a result, Xavi had been contemplating playing Andreas Christensen at the base of the midfield and was finally able to do so in the last match against Alaves.
This experiment ended up in a success for Xavi, as the Dane was able to promise a lot of control and order in the middle of the pitch. Owing to this success of the scheme, Xavi can opt to keep going with it in the upcoming matches as well. Making this experiment was essential for Xavi, as playing without a pivot in the midfield has already cost the team a lot.
Now, as Mundo Deportivo has noted, this availability of another option for the pivot position and the return of Marc Andre Ter Stegen can return the defensive stability back to Barcelona that the team had been missing throughout the season.
Chances of Christensen remaining in the midfield are high, especially because Xavi never considered Frenkie to be a pivot, and with the center of the defensive line also well covered with the return of Inigo Martinez from injury and with Pau Cubarsi passing his first tests in the first-team with flying colors.
Christensen had already played in this position in some matches with the Danish national team. Thus, this position is not entirely new for him, but it is also clear that the Dane will have some tougher tests awaiting him in his new role once the Champions League restarts and Barcelona takes on Napoli in the Round of 16.
