The head of the turn is Xavi Hernandez. The former midfield director and captain in the 2000s and 2010s, when Barca were the pinnacle of European football, took over the coaching job in early November and just a month later his work was bearing fruit.
Xavi not only brought the team back into shape in terms of football, but above all in terms of attitude. The players live for Barca again, their coach brought them back the feeling of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, not a troubled club in decline.
De Jong learns from Xavi
The change is best reflected in Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch international has already been labeled a mega-buyer – Barca transferred 86 million euros to Ajax Amsterdam for him in 2019 – but is thriving under Xavi. De Jong be a”exceptional player“, who demands a lot from himself and yet is modest. “He’s a footballer who has to be very important to the team. He understands the way we play“said the Barca coach.
De Jong is a part of the squad that was the heart of Barca’s game during Xavi’s playing days and is now again. With Sergio Busquets as an experienced clearer, plus the young de Jong, 24, and the even younger Pedri, 19, and Gavi, 17, form a midfield that radiates dominance and esprit in equal measure. Above all, the two Spanish highly talented should ensure a splendid Barca future.
Outstanding, fantastic, no limit – Xavi raves about the Barca teenagers
“He is outstanding. What he’s doing, how he turns, the pace – it’s fantastic. He plays at the highest level, spectacularly. There is no greater talent in the world than him. He makes the difference in the game, in the penalty area, he gets the balls“Xavi said last about Pedri. “It’s a miracle to have him. He comes in for half an hour and is outstanding. He’s not a normal player. There are very few like him.“
And of Gavi, the 42-year-old said: “He has no price for a coach. He surprises with his age. He’s 17, not even of legal age. I’m glad to have him. He has his personality and should keep it that way. He has no limit. Having Gavi is fantastic – how he’s keeping up at 17, his personality, the opportunities he creates – he’s the future of our club.”
Lots of support for lots of talent
But Pedri and Gavi are not the only ones. Nico Gonzalez, Alex Balde, Ronald Araujo and Ez Abde are other players who, according to Xavi, have a bright future ahead of them. “This generation of footballers is spectacular. It’s very difficult to find such players at that age. They are very young but make the difference. That says a lot about her. It’s wonderful with them, I’m very happy to be able to count on them“said the Barca coach.
In order to grow, however, talents need a functioning environment. The fact that this is now the norm in Barcelona also has to do with a number of transfers in winter, almost all of which were successful. Barca have signed Manchester City’s Ferran Torres, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traoré before Xavi lobbied for free club legend Dani Alves. They have all played a key role in the turnaround.
Positive development even at Dembele
And even another touchy subject could now be turned into a beautiful story. Ousmane Dembele was set to leave the club in winter as he previously refused to renew his contract. However, a buyer was not found and so the Frenchman was threatened with a second half of the season in the stands and a free exit in the summer. But now Dembele is becoming more and more of a top performer and has been involved in four goals in the past two games.
“Dembele turned whistles into applause“Xavi said of his player, who had already fallen out of favor with the fans. And so Barca now have hope that there will be a contract extension after all.”Dembele knows our offer. We hope he’ll think about it again at the end of the season“said club president Joan Laporta.
Next weekend, Dembele will be the focus again. On Sunday (06/03/22) Barca are visiting FC Elche. After the upheaval to perfection, the Xavi team wants to take the next step to old strength and stay on the road to success.