The look of the Sevilla coach is compatible with the Barça tactical school that Xavi puts into practice
‘Sampa’ has similarities with Luis Enrique, such as his obsessive radicalism and personality so as not to agree on his ideology
The return of Jorge Sampaoli to Sevilla is very good news no matter how you look at it: for the downtrodden Seville team that sailed aimlessly, for LaLiga… and, yes, also for Barcelona. Having a coach who builds signature teams gives sporting prestige to the competition.
In a Barça key, it is a magnificent opportunity to observe weekly a coach who has experience and understanding of football to sit one day on the bench at the Camp Nouwhen Xavi Hernandezas a pure cruyffista that he is, decide to put an end to his stage, aware that long cycles only cause unnecessary wear and tear.
With ‘Sampa’ there are no half measures. His obsessive radicalism, which his detractors condemn, is, in fact, one of his best virtues to keep a locker room plugged in, with his feet on the ground and away from the ‘pop star’ life that professional sport has become.
The great football revolutions have succeeded because they have been disruptive. Its protagonists have had the personality of not agreeing to their ideology and of being honest with themselves to refuse to cohabit with the mediocrity of speculation and resultism.
At this point and in his harsh contact with the press, the Argentine coach has many similarities with Luis Enrique, who won the last Champions League for Barcelona, with a Triplet included that the Cavern has never forgiven him, not even now in his coaching stage.
Growing from the ball, the offensive interpretation of playing with three behind and suffocating pressure, even though in some phases it can become one on one throughout the field, is part of Barcelona’s stylistic script. So is individual improvement – which is one of the great virtues of the current Sevilla coach – and personality and the conviction that, many times, the solution lies in the grassroots categories.
Bielsa’s philosophy, of which Sampaoli declares himself an admirer, is fully compatible with Barça’s tactical school. Much more, for example, than that put into practice by other Argentine coaches, such as Marcelo Gallardo, from River Plate, who came to appear in the pools to replace Ronald Koeman.
Xavi marks the return to the right path from which the club, under no circumstances, should have departed. Then, for the project to be sustainable, it should embrace and incorporate all stubbornly offensive versions of football regardless of their national origin.