Xavi Hernández

[ajnotkeith]

Both goals came from Alba and Alonso's side.

Alba has played in plenty of LaLiga games where no goals were conceded.

If you want to blame the bad defensive performance only on Alonso starting ok, do you think we will keep a clean sheet in the return when he's on the bench? Definitely not and we will probably concede 2 or more there as well.

That's not what a 7 goals in 22 games defense looks like even if Alonso started and magically caused the other 3 to play bad. The truth is Liga attackers suck and the xG against confirms it.

 

[Horatio]

What would the tactical reasoning have been to start Alonso?

 

[serghei]

Both teams made naive errors imo. United could have speculated our errors and ended the tie, but they were lucky not end 2-4 in the end themselves.

 

[serghei]

What would the tactical reasoning have been to start Alonso?

None. Imo it was related to freshness. Christensen is the clear starter.

 

[Horatio]

Both teams made naive errors imo. United could have speculated our errors and ended the tie, but they were lucky not end 2-4 in the end themselves.

wat

 

[MTL_Barca]

For the first time in years we have a solid back four and then Xavi decides to start a random backline for such an important game.

Well at least we're still in it.

 

[JamDav1982]

None. Imo it was related to freshness. Christensen is the clear starter.

Nope it wasnt.

Mental gymnastics.

Christsen at CB the only one who is knackered?

Sure looked fucked when he came on and then have to consider the alternative is Alonso.

 

[serghei]

Nope it wasnt.

Mental gymnastics.

Christsen at CB the only one who is knackered?

Sure looked fucked when he came on and then have to consider the alternative is Alonso.

What is mental is to think Xavi rates Alonso above Christensen lol.

Everybody knows the ideal 11 of Xavi. If we did not see it it was because of other reasons outside player rating, quite logical and obvious.

One of those reasons is that we are involved in 3 fronts and can't always play with your best 11.

This is EL playoffs. Not semis or anything.

 

[Kul_z]

Cant understand why he changed the back line again. From rock solid automatism of back four to change that in a half. Actually, this goes against him. With balde, christensen we'd have enough pace to contain, especially rashford on that first goal. Araujo christensen cb pairing is a wall, kounde and alonso on another hand is a conference league one, so for real we let only two goals in. Good thing is that we have capacity to change rythm quickly, but damn, fuck off with that "experience in europe" type of line ups.

Imagine if busquets was avaialble, thats him, alonso and alba, combined they are old as 1st world war ending and all of that on left flank.

 

[serghei]

Not saying Xavi was right, but if he feels the squad can't go for 3 fronts, EL is the competition to rotate more in. Pretty logical all things considered.

Now we have some easier games in La Liga, so I expect our best 11 in the return leg. Still should not take it lightly in the league even vs weaker teams.

 

[JamDav1982]

Not saying Xavi was right, but if he feels the squad can't go for 3 fronts, EL is the competition to rotate more in.

Not why he did it.

And no the game v Cadiz is better one to rotate in.

 

[delancey]

Why did Xavi choose to rest players against Man U instead of Cadiz? This has been mentioned, but it bears repeating.

Second, why tinker with with the back line? It has worked so well for us for so many games? Do not touch a working formula so to speak.

Third, if we absolutely had to rotate players tonight, which we did not, why only rotate players in defense, which should really be the last place to make critical and spontaneous changes?

If players needed to rest, why did he not rest Lewandowski? Or Pedri (who always plays)? He is the one who got injured tonight after all.

Why did he take Raphinha off? Why not Lewandowski instead, who is older and had a worse game?

Why did he wait so long to substitute Christensen on? Our defense was clearly in shambles and if it had not been for Ter Stegen, we might have lost the game 5-2 or something.

At one point, I was so pissed off while watching this game.

 

[te amo barca]

Xavi: "Rotations are needed because the calendar is very heavy. Pedri's injury is a pity."

 

[te amo barca]

Xavi: “We have many games in the next few days and we need to rotate, that's why there are 2 changes in defence. We need to prevent injuries.”

Lol he said this before the game. Why are we even debating this? He was rotating.
[MENTION=6099]JamDav1982[/MENTION]

 

[JamDav1982]

Xavi: "Rotations are needed because the calendar is very heavy. Pedri's injury is a pity."

Nonsense.

You dont rotate one of your two best CBs in a position that is not often rotate and then 'rotate' the LB who has been rotate far more than others that played game.

He is full of it.

That was discussed before game anyway. Nothing new.