The culé coach started giving chances to the home promises, but eventually went to the veteran and the transfer market
Looking for a change in the losing dynamic, Barça called Xavi who, as soon as he arrived, restored a decalogue of discipline and order. The idea is anything but new. When the army of Emperor Valens was destroyed by the Goths in Adrianople in 378, a possible Latin American leader named Vegetius wrote a book advising a return to the old military discipline.
Whenever Rome succumbed, there were those who spoke of restoring discipline, and also – as Vegetius writes – rejecting the recruitment of men of barbarian descent and relying again on the natives of the empire. The coach from Tarrasa also adopted this measure, no less classic in times of defeat: relying on those who stay at home.
In his first game, in November, Xavi did what the fans like best: debuting a youth team. The young Ilias Akhomach was the starter along with four other youngsters from La Masía: Gavi, Mingueza, Eric and Nico. In the following game, Xavi brought in Moroccan Az Abde as starter. A month after landing in Barcelona, Barça beat Xavi van Elche, with goals from Jutglà, Gavi and Nico in a match that would also see Riqui Puig, Eric, Ez Abde and Balde. A total of 7 homegrown players under the age of 22. However, Barça almost always won with the minimum and lost to teams like Granada. To make matters worse, Bayern backed him up with three goals in the Champions League, Real Madrid beat him in the Super Cup and Athletic dropped him from the cup.
The old war rules said the military needed a shooting to be effective. And that’s how Xavi’s Barça started to function in February. He wins and convinces and supports four goals against Atlético de Madrid, Valencia, Athletic, Osasuna, Real Madrid and Napoli. But the key is not so much the youth of the academy as the signing of Aubameyang, who at the age of 32 has scored 10 goals in his first 8 matches.
Xavi’s campaign shows chiaroscuro. They took second place, being ninth in the table in November; but he is far from fighting for a title. The worst for some is that he ended up betraying one of the values he himself represented: the quarry. With the winter purchases of Ferrán Torres and Aubameyang, the youngsters were banned. Ez Abde returned to the subsidiary. Jutglà, Mingueza and Riqui Puig also did not count for Xavi, for most of the season. It’s been even worse for Balde and Ilias, who are practically gone. Actually, only Eric Garcia, Gavi and Nico have played regularly. Also Pedri and Ansu Fati, if they are not injured.
The conclusion is clear: the young players of the academy have served mainly in the early stages, when Barça tried to leave that of “it is what it is”, it was necessary to excite disappointed fans, Xavi was idealistic and had no other means. But later, the coach asked for three signings of experienced players.
The coach cannot work miracles: Jutglà, Ez Abde, Mingueza, Riqui Puig and others are suitable for the First Division, but perhaps not good enough to aim for titles. Of the eleven players with the most starts, five are from the academy, but three of them are illustrious veterans: Jordi Alba, Piqué and Busquets. The latter is the one who has played the most minutes all season.
The fans like when young talents come out because they identify with them and give them hope. Xavi knows this and so in the penultimate game, against Getafe, he made Mika Mármol’s debut and fielded four other youngsters as starters, as if he wanted to end the season true to his dedication to La Masía. The match ended 0-0.
It has prestige to play with boys of the house. But many wars have also been won by last-minute hired mercenaries. And especially through the experience of veterans, such as Alves. Of course, at the end of the season, Xavi put together only a young youth squad -Gavi- and started his three signings, including Adama Traoré. Barca fell 0-2.
Just like in the war, there are no unambiguous recipes in football. And despite the great proclamations, the coach — like the general — pragmatically adjusts his criteria based on a single objective, which Xavi shares with every other coach, like Aragonés: win and win and win again.
Source: La Verdad
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