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Barcelona have finally appointed Xavi as their manager following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman. The former Blaugrana midfielder has arrived with much fanfare as he looks to steady the sinking team.
Xavi's arrival has brought a lot of excitement to Camp Nou. Everyone expects Barcelona to return to their famous tiki-taka system under their new coach. As one of the best practitioners of the system during his playing days, there's no doubt the former midfielder has what it takes to implement it as manager.
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However, it certainly won't be a ride in the park for the newly appointed coach. Barcelona have lost some of their best players over the last few years, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
The Blaugrana currently have a shallow squad, and lack the finances to make notable signings. Xavi's best bet is to kickstart another era with a group of young and promising talents at the club. Could he follow in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola and establish another empire dominated by home-grown talents at Camp Nou?
Xavi's appointment - an opportunity for Barcelona's young guns?
The shocking departure of Lionel Messi and a poor start to the season have dealt a serious blow to Barcelona in the last few months. However, the Blaugrana still have a glimmer of hope, thanks to their promising youngsters.
Ansu Fati has been doing wonders since taking up the iconic number 10 jersey. The attacker has bagged four goals and an assist for the Blaugrana in eight appearances this season.
Pedri was the biggest revelation last season, while Gavi has also enjoyed a massive breakthrough in recent weeks. The likes of Riqui Puig, Alex Balde, Oscar Mingueza, Ronald Araujo, Alex Collado and many others present Xavi with decent options to kickstart a new era.
On that note, considering all the resources present at Camp Nou right now, here's a look at how Barcelona could line up under Xavi this season:
Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Marc Andre-ter Stegen has conceded 18 goals in just 14 games this season. That's a clear indication that the German isn't in the best of form right now. But he remains the undisputed starter for Barcelona, as there's no serious competition for his spot.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Barcelona's defence has been fragile as well, meaning the goalkeeper shouldn't take all the blame. On his day, Ter Stegen is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. It remains to be seen if he will rediscover his mojo under Xavi.
#Left-back: Jordi Alba
Barcelona will need Jordi Alba's pace and experience on the left flank to break down opposition defences. Despite being 32, the Spaniard remains a lively presence, and looks solid enough to carry on for the next few seasons.
Alba has been the creative outlet of the team since the departure of Lionel Messi. The defender has bagged five assists for the Blaugrana this season. It would make sense for Xavi to count on Alba, and gradually introduce Alex Balde onto the scene.
#Centre-back: Ronald Araujo
There's no doubt Ronaldo Araujo has been the best centre-back at Barcelona since last season. The Uruguayan continues to impress at the heart of defence, and looks set to continue in the coming years.
At just 22, Araujo has age on his side. The Uruguayan also possesses the talent, personality and leadership to become Barcelona's next defensive general. It's easy to see that he could be a pivotal figure under Xavi.
#Centre-back: Eric Garcia
Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo have lined up alongside each other at the heart of Barcelona's defence on a few occasions this season. The two players look destined to become Barcelona's first-choice centre-back pairing in the coming years. That could well begin under Xavi this season.
Garcia has made 12 appearances for the Blaugrana across competitions this season. Although the Spaniard hasn't hit top form yet, it is only a matter of time before he hits the ground running at Camp Nou, hopefully under Xavi.
#Right-back: Sergino Dest
Thanks to the sale of Emerson this summer, Sergino Dest has no serious competition for his spot at right-back other than the versatile Oscar Minguez. The USMNT star has the attributes to thrive at Barcelona, and Xavi will likely have to keep him in his starting line-up.
Dest has made 13 appearances for Barcelona across competitions so far this season, recording three assists to his name. It is worth noting that the defender has been one of the top performers for the Blaugrana since the start of the campaign.
#Defensive Midfield: Frenkie de Jong
Xavi will have a big decision to make in Barcelona's midfield when he starts fielding out his team/ With the level of resources present at Camp Nou right now, the Spaniard shouldn't be afraid of giving Sergio Busquets some rest to usher in the new era.
One player who could fill the defensive midfield role perfectly is Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman will bring more pace, pressing and faster transitions to the centre. Unlike Barcelona's youngsters, the 24-year-old has a decent level of experience in his bag, which should surely help him.
#Central Midfield: Pedri
Enough has been written about Pedri's brilliance since he broke through at Barcelona last season. The Spaniard continues to be a huge revelation on the pitch. He has displayed Xavi and Iniesta-esque qualities, giving the Blaugrana hope of a bright future.
Pedri has made four appearances for Barcelona across competitions this season. He has spent the last few weeks on the sidelines, but is expected to return to action after the international break. That means he stands a chance to feature in Xavi's first game in charge of Barcelona against Espanyol on November 20.
#Central Midfield: Gavi
Gavi has been the talk of the town in Barcelona following his impressive performances for club and country in recent weeks. The midfielder has featured in each of the Blaugrana's 14 games across competitions, recording one assist.
The 17-year-old looks likely to become an influential member of Xavi's squad at Camp Nou. Given his recent performances, it is highly likely he'll feature in the tactician's first game in charge later this month.
#Left Winger: Ansu Fati
There's simply no doubting Ansu Fati's ability to provide solutions for Barcelona in front of goal. The attacker has been a huge force on the left wing since making his return from injury. He has produced decisive performances to help the team.
Fati has bagged three goals and an assist from five La Liga appearances for Barcelona this season. He also has a goal to his name in the Champions League, raising his overall tally for the season to four goals and an assist. The 19-year-old could cut it under Xavi, and also go a long way to making history at Camp Nou.
#Right Winger: Ousmane Dembele
There's simply no competition with a fit Ousmane Dembele on the right flank of Barcelona's attack. The Frenchman reminded us of his incredible abilities when he came on during the Champions League clash with Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday.
He was a huge problem for the opposition defence, so it comes as no surprise that Barcelona scored the only goal of the game shortly after Dembele came on. He will miss the next few weeks due to a hamstring injury, but is expected to return before the end of the month. If he stays fit, he could be a huge weapon for Xavi.
#Centre-forward: Memphis Depay
Without a proper striker in the squad, Memphis Depay should provide Xavi with a solution, thanks to his ability to impress in the central role. The Dutchman has been one of the top performers for Barcelona this season, bagging six goals and two assists across competitions.
A front three consisting of Fati, Dembele and Depay could be very tricky for opposition defences to handle. All three players are pacy, dynamic and are capable of creating magic in the offensive third. Xavi should definitely try this combination out.
