Xavi’s arrival at FC Barcelona was a move that many considered to be courageous and even dangerous. The former Blaugrana player has an immortalized legacy at the club from his playing days. However, a potential bad run as head coach could possibly have tainted it.
Yet, despite all odds, Xavi managed to save a sinking Barcelona in his debut season. Arriving midway through the 2021/22 campaign, he took over from Ronald Koeman and steered Barça back to the top spots of La Liga.
Then, last season, he truly helped Barcelona reach their best version in recent years. Winning both La Liga and the Spanish Supercup with a victory over Real Madrid in the final, Barcelona found their lost glory back.
However, much of the plaudits go to Xavi for a tactical tweak that made all of that possible. By abandoning the standard 4-3-3 that Barcelona has become synonymous with, he instead chose to utilize four midfielders in his starting eleven.
This season, given their lack of control in recent games, SPORT believes that he is considering reverting back to that proven method. With Frenkie De Jong and Pedri previously injured, this was not possible. However, both the two star midfielders have now recovered and are available.
Even despite Gavi’s unfortunate injury, Xavi has strong midfield options to rely upon. While Pedri, De Jong, and Ilkay Gundogan are seen as untouchables, they could be accompanied by a fourth midfielder in games against relatively stronger opponents where control is of the essence.
The two options that stand out are those of Fermin Lopez and Oriol Romeu. The 20-year-old provides a dynamic outlet whenever the team requires that extra adrenaline and tenacity. On the other hand, Romeu provides a lot more stability, especially when playing alongside Frenkie De Jong.
For now, Xavi keeps his mind and options open. Barcelona have been far from their best in recent games, and a solution must be found.
The upcoming games against Atletico Madrid, Girona, and Porto in the Champions League are all crucial encounters that will determine the future of Barça’s season even before reaching January.