The big 'core' problem for Xavi's Barça in 2023/24

The FC Barcelona is about to to close a season in which the disappointments have been maximum. They came of a year that had served of 'start' for the project directed by Xavi Hernández, that added LaLiga and Supercopa of Spain, and in paper went to be a course of 'confirmation', adding the positive notes of the 2022/2023 (Gavi, Pedri, Araújo, Lewandowski...) With the reinforcements that achieved during the summer (Gündogan, Cancel, Joao Félix...). The results and conclusions have been very underneath of the expectations.

Although they have achieved very good news, like the irruption of Lamine Yamal or Pau Cubarsí, the Barça is closing a disappointing year that will cause that the sportive area feels to analyse the situation deeply. They are many the ingredients to take in account, further of the 'excuses' that generally go out to float (injuries or referees), and that they have to carry to a radical change for the next year, with or without Xavi Hernández in the bench to the control of the project.

In all the lines of the team there are points for improving, but in the centre of the field is where the alarms have to be lit, because in paper would have to be the big engine of the team. The conditions were given for this, surely. With the incorporation of Gündogan and Oriol Romeu, the Catalans achieved -in paper- the pieces that needed: a half offensive, able to arrive from second line and 'improve' the balloons that went through his boots, and a mediocentro defensive that did of Sergio Busquets.

The plan fulfilled , half

The Teutonic has been one of the most important pieces of the Barça, of far, by not saying that the most important. It has been the only player, beside Lamine Yamal, to keep the good feelings along the season, in addition to 'explode' as asistidor. It is a signing of luxury for a team that needed this 'point' of quality. By his part, Romeu has been one of the big disappointments of the course. It began like an indisputable headline and being key with Frenkie of Jong in the base of the played. It was desinflándose to the point that it is the midfield player more prescindible and aims to go out in brief.

The true is that both players were called to complete a centre of the field that already was quite consolidated with Frenkie of Jong, Pedri González and Gavi... But the physical problems, like effect dominated, finish 'killing' any possibility to joint to the footballers more 'talentosos', in paper, on the lawn. In the ideal stage, the medullary of the Barça would have to be formed by Of Jong+Gavi retarded, leaving to Pedri and Gündogan in the most advanced part of the square.

In spite of this, was not a plan that could have continuity and, in fact, 'SPORT' has remembered that the four solo coincided in the lawn during 68 minutes in all the season. They have been varied the factors that have influenced that forced to Xavi to change constantly of plan and diagram. In the first presentations, for example, Gavi was not to title by problems in the back that had dragged from the pre-season. The culés went out with Romeu, Of Jong, Gündogan and Pedri.

The injuries have 'condemned' to a Barça that did not achieve (or did not look for?) Solutions

The sevillano became indisputable when the ex of The Palms fell lesionado, to finals of August. It added like the fourth midfield player and, since, the injuries have been to the agenda for all: When it recovered one, fell another. The trainer egarense did not find the formula so that his centre of the field had solidity, without mattering the protagonists, and was one of the big problems with which topó the Barça in this season. It is not one 'excuse' to justify the disappointing performance of the team, but yes a factor that had an important effect.

And it is that it does not be necessary to overlook that in the beginning of course Pedri lost 12 parties, and later went Of Jong the one who left to the infirmary... Justo before the break of ligament crossed of Gavi, around the middle of November during a party with Spain, that forced him to lose the rest of the course. Besides, so much the Canarian like the Dutch have been victims of diverse physical problems that have kept them to the margin during long stretches.

All the problems have forced to the technical body to explore alternating roads to form the centre of the field. From delaying to Gündogan to the pivote, sometime, until explaining of constant way with Fermín López and reconvert to Andreas Christensen to mediocentro in this last period. They have been solutions of emerngencias, to turn off the fires, but at all permanent. The big hándicap of the Barça has been, probably, not finding the formula for the operation of his medullary as it corresponds.

The solutions and decisions have to go further of the signings

And it is something that, at the end of the day, goes further of the names that are in payroll. It is very true that the drop of Busquets has been a very painful for the 'style' of the blaugrana, but the solutions go much more there to achieve to a player 'identical' to him. It was the moment to change, evolve or, simply, adapt the game to the conditions that had (or have). In a lot of occasions, more than which expected , the Barça tried to play to something that was not and the consequences are there. Of face to the season that comes, the solutions will be much more there to add more names to the staff.