Doubts and alternatives: What will Barça's defense be like with Joao Cancelo?

The FC Barcelona is my near to announce the incorporation of Joao Cancel. It will arrive in quality of loan with an option of purchase to fulfil the 'wish' of Xavi Hernández and the sportive direction to have a right side of máxma category. The expectation is maximum, because it is a player that will be able to be changing of role constantly, depending on the needs of the team, and that it can elevate exponencialmente the level of the staff. It can be a key piece in this season.

The trainer egarense had insisted in the incorporation of a right-handed side this summer. It had asked it from the beginning, but the option was 'descartándose' until at the beginning of this month, coinciding with the exit of Ousmane Dembélé, the Barça began to move index card by Cancel. The agreement with him and his agent did not take in arriving, but the negotiations with the Manchester City extended more than the account, although finally they have arrived to good port.

The possibilities of Xavi with the defence

The case is that the preferences of the blaugrana regarding his right-handed side have changed. It is necessary to take in consideration that, as it has seen in the last months (in the end of the past campaign and start of this), the Barça has bet for playing with four midfield players and, although this in paper leaves to a defence configured also by four players, in the terrain of game changes entirely. Alejandro Balde is used to to play much more advanced, to the height of the extremes and leaves the retaguardia formed by three head offices.

In paper and in an ideal situation, up to now, have been Ronald Araújo, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen those that have formed estre defensive trio. This leaves to the player that splits by the band with more defensive responsibilities that offensive, something that is key considering that so much the charrúa like the French feel more comfortable 'remaining' backwards. With the imminent arrival of Cancel, this situation could see modified or directly change.

In prncipio, the intention of Xavi was to achieve to a more defensive profile (like Juan Foyth), but to Cancel no can him say "no" if you can ficharlo. The case is that it is a player that always has stood out to the hour to add to the attack and that in the Manchester City, especially, despuntó in a lot of occasions for splitting like a 'accompanying' of the mediocentro (Rodri) and give more rhythm to the game splitting from the band. In summary, is not a player that constantly remains in the defensive works.

The alternative more 'logical' for Xavi

In paper, the defence of gala of the Barça will be configured by Cancel, Koundé, Araújo and Balde, but it will be necessary to define the functions. One of the two sides (as long as it keep the 4-4-2) will have to show a more defensive profile and back to the two head offices, causing that the another go out you the pressure and situate more near of the attackers. Another alternative, that seems little likely,is that Xavi go back to bet by the 'traditional' 4-3-3, but would result complicated that it do without one of his midfield players, that are being key.