If the friendly of Las Vegasresolved with a goal from the electric Raphinhawas to verify that the staff of Xavi Hernandez It is ample of good resources. It’s no longer the scrawny, unbalanced team it took last season. These are some conclusions of what was seen against Real Madrid.
Maximum depth in the template
They asked Xavi after the game: what a squad they’re leaving you with… «Not me, not Barça. We are here for Barça to compete again and win titles. The sensations are good. I think we are making a great team but in the end it has to be shown », he answered. He was able to line up Xavi with two different teams, proof that the goal of having two players per position is being fulfilled. In some there are already plenty. In any case, there is competition, particularly fierce in attack and midfield.
If there is a gap to fill, it is on the right side. Araujo acted in the first part and Dest, correct as a substitute, in the second. He is the starting signing that is missing. Azpilicueta was and is the chosen one, but the way things are with Chelsea, no one knows anymore. On the left side, Balde seems to need an Erasmus. It is possible to improve that relief of Alba.
Yes, Lewandowski guarantees a shot
The Pole made his debut, 45 minutes in which he did not score but in which he wanted to tell those of us who were watching that he is not going to be shy when putting together the boot. He shot everything that came to him. At one time he was selfish. Scorers are like that. He also goes down, receives and opens. Craft and quality. With him there is a leap in expectations.
Raphinha’s display of dynamism
He was the author of the goal with a splendid left-footed shot and was declared man of the match, but the Brazilian liked it as a right winger, with a changed leg, facing the side, coming out on both sides, daring and at the same time making an effort to recover. He was seen to be more subdued on the left, so that if the League starts tomorrow, Dembélé would have to reserve the revolutionary role from the bench. “You see, he is very dynamic, capable of making a difference,” said Xavi of the Brazilian.
Memphis, De Jong and the alleged messages
The presidency and the sports management yearn for offers to arrive that are to the liking of the two Dutch. Both have a poster, in particular the midfielder, but for the moment they seem to resist leaving Barça and Barcelona. Xavi said after the game that all the strata that run the club form “a big family” and accordingly he did not give title to one or the other in a game in which he seemed to line up the closest thing to an eleven for start the league In the case of De Jong, when he played, in the second half, he occupied the central position, not exactly his favorite place. “Frenkie is fundamental to my plans, fundamental. I do not send any message when placing it as central. I have chatted with him, he knows how much I value him as a footballer. We have had very important private conversations that I will not reveal here. But the economic situation of the club cannot be ignored. And he added: “Playing as a central defender he can give us many things.” Of course.
Araujo displaced, Piqué on the bench and waiting for Koundé
Christensen and Eric Garcia applied themselves effectively against a Madrid without Benzema. Both left samples of the virtues that Xavi most appreciates in them, which is the movement of the ball, either in changes of orientation or filtering passes between the lines. Araujo, more forceful but less virtuous, played as a side, where he was not forced to play and touch so much. Piqué, who received a medical discharge before the game, complied (despite constant absurd boos from the North American stands) but received confirmation of the message that the coach had already sent him: if he stayed, the bench was waiting for him. “Names are not worth it here,” he reiterated after the meeting. And on top of that, there is still the arrival of another central defender, Koundé is expected in the next few hours.
Center of the field of touch and pressure.
The high pressure, in which the midfielders are capital, was exercised with fanaticism in Las Vegas. As a result of one of them, Militao made an error that facilitated Raphinha’s good goal. In the starting eleven, the Terrassa coach put Pedri and Gavi. Neither De Jong, nor the new one, Kessie, much less Sergi Roberto. The two teens emptied themselves at that constant pressure. They also collaborated in providing circulation, although perhaps they lacked arrival capacity. Kessié, in the second half, showed that despite his indomitable appearance, he has quality for the combination and for the arrival in the area.