It’s funny how an isolated positive performance magically changes the narrative on here. Suddenly a positive outcome nullifies all of the criticism of this season and last. It’s as if some lads forget about the atrociously terrible football we have had to endure this season and/or last (a few outliers come to mind, ex. against Atletico Madrid in La Liga a few months back). See, for me, that’s what it’s about! How we play! Titles are nice, but I watch Barca for the beauty of the game too!
This result is not a “gotcha”.
Anyone who’s watched a great majority of our games understands perfectly well how we so often slow down the tempo, endlessly pass the ball back and side-ways. Incapable of breaking down opponents who understand our tactics (or lack thereof). Utterly static in attack! Snooze fest galore! 💤 Imagine watching the same boring movie every weekend only to be handed a treat once every two months! Damn that treat feels good, doesn’t it? I think you get my point! Would you rather date 10 mediocre women (a title) or have one incredible girlfriend (beautiful football)? I know which camp I’m in!
What so often happens is that someone brings up our style of play and everything it entails! Poor tactics, inferior style/patterns of play, slow and static in attack, little variability, boredom, etc! Then… someone else moves the goalposts and counters the criticism by bringing up our La Liga title last season. Guess what? That title doesn’t mean that Xavi doesn’t have a lot to learn. He does! He speaks of attacking football, but so often our style of play is the opposite of that! But, let’s be fair…
On the one hand, Xavi is a winner. A competitor. Mentally strong! Overcoming the criticism as of late, and “sometimes” getting our squad to perform when it counts; it is not something just anyone can do! He is also a risk taker, one who believes in our youngsters! Koeman would have fielded our youngsters (what choice did he have?) and when they failed, he would have dumped the blame on them!) Yuck! Xavi makes Cubarsi, Yamal, Balde, Gavi, Pedri, Fermin, et al, believe they’re the shit! Mind over matter! Personally I love that quality in a leader! Klopp has this quality too! Hence why we shouldn’t buy players from teams with these type of managers! Combine this quality with tactical superiority (Klopp) and the manager becomes a gem! Add consistency into the equation and he becomes a GOAT (Pep, Ferguson, Klopp)! In short, our players follow Xavi, and that’s an important ingredient to have as a leader. Respect!
Another thing! Those isolated performances under Xavi, in which we play well and win? The feel good moments? Yesterday’s game was one of those. I think the reason why some doubted the performance afterwards was because so often this season, we’ve been unable to finish off the game. Cross and inshallah will only get a team so far! Anything could happen in the 90th minute! Trauma! But for me, last night’s game was a performance of dominance (at some points). At one point, we parked our cajones in their final third, and claimed the territory as our own! With youngsters! Xavi got it right; hence why I said “Good job Xavi” in a previous post. 👍👍👍 Getting results in Europe has been a huge point of criticism of Xavi, and rightfully so. He is improving, and that’s a positive. This does not negate the point that he’s still learning on the job! At freaking Barca!
On the other hand, what happens when we face a tactically superior team, such as Manchester City or Bayern Munich? Can Xavi replicate these one off performances against the very best? That’s what it’s about: finding weaknesses in the opponent and using them to our advantage. Seeing patterns of play instilled into our team day in, day out! Doing so consistently! And at Barca, doing all of this while making our games fun to watch! So far, that hasn’t been the case. That’s my major gripe with Xavi! That is, the consistent boredom of our football. 😴 Results have been so so, but the boredom has been unmanageable!
On a funny note, we just know that if Xavi draws PSV or Dortmund, and overcomes them, and then magically beats RM in the semifinals, and somehow wins the CL against Inter, he’ll be handed a life long contract at Barca.
@BJJ 😳😨😭
@jamrock 🤩🤩🥳🥳 best manager ever! So fun to watch! I told you so!!
@FC B Better to get eliminated now in order to spare us the misery! 😏😏😏
@Temptation 😈😈😈
