The effect made by Xavi on Barcelona since his arrival is just amazing
Football is undoubtedly a team game but a manager’s role has the same importance as the players’. He has to be the ‘mastermind’ in the game as he controls the pace of the game with his tactics.
This article will tell you the effect that Xavi has made on his former club since his homecoming as a manager at the Camp Nou.
The Xavi Effect
Before Xavi’s homecoming at Camp Nou, Barcelona were suffering a lot and were struck between 7th and 8th position. But as soon as the Spanish legend arrived, he made an instant impact on his beloved club.
Barca’s last 11 games:
- vs Osasuna: 2-2
- vs Elche: 3-2
- vs Sevilla: 1-1
- vs Mallorca: 1-1
- vs Granada: 1-1
- vs Alaves: 0-1
- vs Atletico Madrid: 4-2
- vs Espanyol: 2-2
- vs Valencia: 1-4
- vs Athletic Club: 4-0
- vs Elche: 1-2
In the recent match against Elche, Xavi pointed out the problems Barcelona faced in the second half of the game. He said he was angry because of the chances missed by the players.
“I was angry at halftime because we didn’t deserve to be behind after what we had created. (Elche goalkeeper) Edgar was brilliant. I was annoyed, angry.
“But I was hopeful that if we attacked better, we would win. That’s what I told the players. I made a positional change (Ferran on) and it worked well for us.
“The sensations are very good. That’s four wins in a row. It’s a sign that we’re working well and that the players believe in what we are saying. The dynamic is good.”
The Catalan side was missing a lot of chances throughout the game but Xavi was able to throw on attackers Ferran, Memphis, and Adama Traore after the break.
“I think we deserved the win,” he said. “We created a lot of chances but we didn’t take them, we were not effective. But the team played well against an aggressive Elche side that was well-positioned defensively.
“In the second half, the team stepped forward, we created more chances than in the first half. It was a really important win, a team win, a vital win.”
