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Capping off weeks of speculation, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman was finally let go in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano last month. The embarrassing defeat to Vallecano pushed the Catalan giants down to ninth position in La Liga, and the club board could not risk sliding further down.
Club legend and Al Sadd coach, Xavi, has been called upon to bring the glory days back at the Camp Nou, and fans are hopeful of seeing him succeed. They are confident of seeing their beloved club return to the top echelon of football where they rightfully belong.
Today, we will take a look at Xavi’s upcoming spell as Barcelona coach and try to predict how he might go about his business.
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Here are the top five predictions for club legend Xavi’s tenure as Barcelona head coach:
#5 Xavi to overhaul Barcelona’s medical staff
From Ousmane Dembele to Pedri, Barcelona have had to endure an unnatural number of injuries this season. While Dembele has played only 25 minutes this season, Martin Braithwaite has missed 21 matches across all competitions.
Pedri, who was a star performer for Spain at Euro 2020, has already missed eight games this campaign.
Xavi is reportedly unhappy with the club’s medical staff and wants to switch it up. At Al Sadd, the former Barcelona midfielder had a team of top-tier doctors and physios. Given the current state of the club, he will look to create the same posse here.
Expect some medicos to leave Barcelona during Xavi’s spell and some of his old Al Sadd crew joining him at the Camp Nou. We are not sure whether it will shorten Barcelona’s list of injuries, but it is surely an option to consider.
#4 Barcelona to bring in a winger or two
Since Lionel Messi’s departure, Barcelona have been nearly static on the wings. Ansu Fati has done some damage down the left but it has not been enough.
Ousmane Dembele, on the other hand, has missed all but 25 minutes this season. The Blaugrana currently do not have dependable wingers at their disposal and Xavi could look to solve that problem as soon as possible.
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has reportedly emerged as a possible recruit for the new Barcelona manager. Sterling has not had many opportunities under Pep Guardiola this season and could be ready for a move in January itself.
Barcelona’s dodgy financial situation could make the transfer complicated, but they might need to play a little fast and loose to meet Xavi’s demands.
#3 More La Masia graduates to play for Barcelona
Barcelona arguably has the most iconic youth academy in the world, La Masia. The academy has produced the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and would-be manager Xavi, all of whom have created unmatched legacies. La Masia does not only teach kids about football, but it also teaches them to play “the right way.”
Xavi, who has always been one of the most vocal advocates of the “right brand” of football, is likely to prioritize La Masia graduates. They already know everything there is to know about the club’s values and will look to replicate the same on the pitch.
If all goes swimmingly, out-of-favour star Riqui Puig could finally get his chance to shine under Xavi and form a formidable partnership with Pedri.
#2 Barcelona to play as a more cohesive unit
Since the departure of Pep Guardiola, Barcelona have often depended on individual brilliance to win matches. The club’s record goalscorer Lionel Messi was the star of the show, winning matches single-handedly every other day.
With the departure of Messi at the start of the season, the Blaugrana have lost their X-factor. Now, the onus is on Xavi to bring it back.
Under Xavi, Barcelona are likely to depend a lot less on individual brilliance and a lot more on their collective ability. Xavi will look to assign certain tasks to certain players, making them a part of the grand system.
There will be solo, brilliant goals, of course, but they are likely to be few and far between.
#1 Barcelona to get their identity back under Xavi
Barcelona’s famous motto, “Mes Que un Club (more than a club),” defines the way Xavi sees the club. For the new manager, Barcelona are not only supposed to win.
They are meant to influence and inspire. Given his astute footballing intelligence and knack for staying true to the Barcelona philosophy, we expect Xavi’s team to play a scintillating brand of football.
The Camp Nou outfit currently lack financial stability, which might complicate things for Xavi. He might not get all the players he wants and could find it difficult to implement his system effectively in the first season.
Given Barcelona’s lackluster positioning in La Liga, a title challenge looks unlikely, but a strong finish to the season should not be ruled out.
It is tough to predict what the future holds, but as of now, Barcelona have plenty of reasons to be hopeful about the coming seasons.
