FC Barcelona are having a great season, as they have got five victories in the first six games of the season. The last two games have been particularly good, with the Catalans scoring five goals in each of them, without conceding even one in return.
The incorporation of new players over the summer has significantly rejuvenated the team. Players like Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, and Oriol Romeu have fitted in seamlessly at their new team, while Inigo Martinez is now also ready for action.
Fixtures piling up
However, the real tests of the season will only be starting as the calendar starts becoming more congested for Barcelona and other top European clubs. This week is the first of the season in which Barcelona will be playing three games, but more such weeks are set to follow.
In such a scenario, it is essential to have a bench with reliable players, and according to SPORT, Xavi is planning to make the best possible use of his bench and reserve players to keep them in the best shape for the fixture pileups coming ahead.
Xavi wants all his players to feel important, and the staff is working to ensure no one is left behind. However, the rotations will not be random, and the bench players will get chances only gradually, with not too many changes in the starting lineup at once.
Fringe players to see game time against Celta
For the upcoming match against Celta, non-starters like Marcos Alonso, Sergi Roberto, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal can all have a chance to get on the field. While not all these players will start, most will get game time this weekend.
Xavi is facing a double-edged sword with the fiercely competitive squad that he has at his disposal. While this competition makes all the players give their best, it also poses a problem for Xavi on whom to select for a match. Every position in the squad, except that of Romeu, has a substitute, but the atmosphere in the locker room is still optimal.
