With every positive for FC Barcelona there is typically always a negative aspect just lingering about. The Catalan giants now possess specialists in arguably every position, something that head coach Xavi Hernandez had been a huge advocate for since the very beginning.
One of those key incorporations has been that of Portuguese fullback Joao Cancelo. Already possessing a great reputation for his technical brilliance, his arrival from Premier League champions Manchester City on loan ignited much joy within the Catalan capital, and for good reason.
His offensive contributions to the team have been second to none. Often creating chances that even the midfield is unable to process, alongside being capable of taking shots himself, Cancelo is the ideal example of an offensive fullback.
However, as SPORT highlights, due to this ultra-offensive nature, Cancelo tends to leave behind acres of space for the opposition to exploit on his flank. While earlier games showcased the best of Cancelo’s attacking abilities, some of the recent clashes have ended up showcasing the problems that come with him playing higher up the field.
Against Porto, Mallorca, and even Celta Vigo, Barcelona were left troubled by the fast-paced setups of their opponents. Despite this, Xavi will want to make adjustments in order to prevent his side from conceding as much as they are this season.
With Alejandro Balde in the previous campaign, Xavi managed to balance out his attacking nature by deploying three defensively oriented players apart from him in the back four. While this is no longer a possibility given that neither of Cancelo nor Balde can end up being dropped, Barcelona and Xavi can still focus on other solutions.
Perhaps by using Cancelo with more restrictions on roaming free could be of use. This would increase the possibility of disabling any counter attacks that come from the flank but it would simultaneously harm Cancelo’s offensive capabilities, something that Xavi wants to fully utilize.
Ultimately, whatever route Xavi ends up finding that works, will be heavily beneficial to Barcelona. Joao Cancelo is an elite talent, and making full use of his abilities could end up helping Xavi’s Barca reach heights they have not yet been able to.
