Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi Barcelona Debacle: Xavi is currently sitting on the edge, with a string of mishaps around him. After a thrilling 3-3 draw on Wednesday with Inter Milan, they will likely need to start thinking about their Europa League campaign soon. Barcelona won’t be able to advance to the Champions League’s knockout rounds for a second straight season if Inter defeats Viktoria Plzen The Clasico comes up next, and Real Madrid is right there with the biggest of them all in terms of “big boy” competitions. There will be chaos if Barcelona loses against Real. Follow La Liga LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
For Xavi, the club legend turned manager, to be successful, he needed to be given every opportunity. Since the unjustified firing of Ernesto Valverde over three years ago, Barcelona has gone through two managers. Ronald Koeman, Quique Setien, and now Xavi.It is well known that Xavi has idealistic views about how Barcelona should play. The former Barça midfielder never allowed an interview to pass without bemoaning how the group was deteriorating.
When it counts, Xavi is finding it more difficult than he anticipated to translate his ideal play style into a realistic one. Barcelona entered the Europa League for the first time since the 2000-01 season last year. After a tumultuous stalemate against Inter Milan on Wednesday, unless a miracle happens, the same is going to happen this season. Last season, someone else was to blame because Xavi had taken over a dismal situation. This season, the manager will bear full responsibility.
However, lest the mishap happens, Xavi could not, or rather should not, be the person held responsible for the event. A series of “unfortunate” proceedings happened before Barcelona got to the brink of being rendered “ just a random club”.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
BARCELONA’S UNPLANNED SPENDING
Despite well-documented financial issues, the club paid over 145 million euros to players in the summer, raising eyebrows. To summarise Barcelona’s problems, the club’s debt reached €1.3 billion last year. After exceeding a predetermined “wage cap,” La Liga barred the club from signing a large number of new players before the 2022–23 season. This “salary cap” is simply a comparison of income to the squad’s worth
Barcelona has found a way to get around its financial issues by converting short-term debt into long-term debt through the signing of sizable sponsorship deals, such as one worth €280 million with Spotify; borrowing €600 million from Goldman Sachs; and selling off a portion of the club’s assets, including its TV rights and an in-house production facility.
After much financial maneuvering, the club was able to buy top players like Jules Kounde from Sevilla, Raphinha from Leeds United, and Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich for an estimated €140 million. There were also free transfers of players with apparently significant salaries, such as defender Hector Bellerin, midfielder Franck Kessie, and defender Andreas Christensen.
Barça president Laporta on January signings: “We’re working on January market. We’re discussing internally with the board, Xavi and his staff”. 🚨🔵🔴 #FCB
“We’ve the intention to improve our squad, as always”. pic.twitter.com/zPBhzhIvSO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 15, 2022
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
Since taking over the presidency of Barcelona last year, Joan Laporta has been heavily involved in both the financial and transfer activities. Laporta has openly discussed the economic “levers” — selling club assets to acquire money . Paid off the debt — that he inherited from his predecessor, Josep Bartomeu. Laporta, Mateu Alemany, the club’s director of sport, and Jordi Cruyff, the club’s sporting adviser, have all made moves that have made it plain that the club prioritizes quick success to get out of the financial pickle.
The team could keep making pledges while deferring debt payments for a few more years, all the while adding new players to the roster and attracting new fans. Super clubs, like Barcelona, have this luxury because of their long histories of success and brand development. But as the team’s off-field issues persist, reality may finally catch up with the club.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
DECLINE OF BARCELONA’S ASSETS
The biggest issue of all might perhaps be this one. Barcelona has struggled with injuries, but that was the goal of the summer budget. Xavi built a competitive team, and had healthy competition. It would present him with the finest kinds of coaching challenges. Instead, Barcelona faced Inter with Sergi Roberto, Gerard Piqué, and Eric Garcia at the back. Eric Garcia is a player whose talent is constantly the subject of heated disputes.
Piqué’s performance against Inter was unthinkable. He allowed the opening goal to pass past his head and was often caught on the counter. He came close to scoring an own goal from a set piece, and things may have been worse for him if it weren’t for Marc-André ter Stegen’s quick reactions. Busquet’s physical limitations against Inter prevented and directly harmed Barcelona. Before Inter’s second goal on Tuesday night, he turned the ball over twice before being substituted.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
This results in a different issue. Gavi is one of those exceptional players whose energy must be managed and well-focused to avoid becoming a problem. He is bursting with energy and is just as thrilled to fling all of himself into a challenge regardless of the opponent. He is to power slide through a crease in the rival defense. That does not imply that you expect him to perform both tasks equally. He frequently ignites Spain’s offense under Luis Enrique. He is going for two at Barcelona this season, and that much defense is incompatible with a balanced interior. He hasn’t scored or provided an assist this year.
They have had trouble defending in transition for a while now, and this season it has become worse. Without the ability to defend in transition, it is impossible to play in the manner that Xavi believes Barcelona should. Everything becomes slower and more cautious as a result. It turns every mistake, no matter how small, into a possible tragedy.
Naturally, none of these issues are developing in a vacuum. Each issue feeds into the other and vice versa, creating a vicious cycle in which errors multiply. After last summer’s expenditure, there is a fragile number of players who are aware of the pressure of expectation. Additionally, Xavi doesn’t now appear to have the answers.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
LA LIGA LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY GRACE
Amidst all the issues faced by Xavi at Barcelona currently, the only positivity is the unbeaten streak since the start of the league. Barcelona is currently at the top of the table. They have assimilated 22 points of 8 games, winning 7 and drawing 1. They have played against teams like Real Valladolid, Cadiz, Elche, and Real Mallorca in their last six La Liga games, and during those matches, they have not given up a goal. However, the sides are not even known for their goal-scoring numbers. Stats won’t reveal that Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s outstanding play in goal has on multiple occasions been the only thing keeping the opponents at bay.
But when the stronger sides show up, it’s a different matter. Especially if you don’t have your preferred defenders available to face them. Barcelona has already given up seven goals this season in four matches in the Champions League. Xavi has only progressed as far as stage one of this new system at the Nou Camp. It is terrible news when you are going to face a Real Madrid team that excelled and who knows how to increase the levels when it matters.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: Xavi FACES El Clasico TEST, Barca Legend’s Managerial Career Faces UNCERTAINTY amidst Debacles – Check Out
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Editors pick
