Competition is what drives top European clubs forward, and FC Barcelona is no exception. The Catalan giants welcome the prospect of a competitive squad as it allows them to have depth that would remain in contention to fight for places and give their all in games.
Among the various positions within FC Barcelona that are well-versed with quality depth, perhaps the area that is more reformed and crowded is the midfield. The Catalan giants possess an embarrassment of riches within their midfield depth and it is going to cause serious dilemmas for Xavi Hernandez.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, one of the primary dilemmas will be to fit the currently injured Pedri into this squad somehow. Completing his recovery at the moment, Pedri is undoubtedly one of the most important pieces within this Barcelona side.
However, given the recent performances of some of his teammates, it is almost impossible to pick and choose who gets to start and who provides cover from the bench. Pedri, albeit a starter whenever he’s fit and available, may have to face some severe competition from his teammates.
For now, Oriol Romeu seems to be an undisputed starter given that he is the team’s main natural pivot, and courtesy of his contributions, others around him are able to play more naturally. One of those players is Frenkie De Jong, another one of Xavi’s untouchables within the team.
The Dutchman’s maturity and ability to compete against even the high-intensity teams commonly faced within the Champions League makes him a sure starter for Xavi as well. Lastly, the cases of both Ilkay Gundogan and Gavi are also present to provide further confusion for the Barcelona coach.
On one hand, the German midfielder provides a lot of experience and quality on the ball. His movements, passes, and decision-making are arguably at the very highest level and Xavi himself was full of praise for the former Manchester City midfielder:
“When Gündo has the ball, everything gets better. It’s as simple as that. He does everything right, absolutely everything. If we are playing better, it’s because of players like him. His signing has been a blessing. He’s a superlative player, and it’s a joy to watch him play.”
On the other hand, Gavi plays like a man possessed when it comes to representing Barcelona. Tenacious and giving his all for every ball and within every minute, the young Golden Boy winner has also presented an intense case for himself following early reports suggesting he may be one of those unable to cement a place for themselves within this new-look Barca team.
Xavi even further provided reasoning to Gavi’s importance:
“It’s very difficult to take Gavi off the field. He brings rhythm, ball recoveries, and excellent defensive work. He’s the heart of the team, he’s very passionate. He’s fundamental, and I’m very happy with him.”
It now remains to be seen how exactly Xavi will manage to incorporate Pedri into this well-stacked team and how often will the Barcelona coach decide to rotate. As SPORT believes, however, given the quality present within this Barca midfield, fans of La Blaugrana should expect to see frequent rotations this season.
