"We can not forget about our concepts," said Xavi on Saturday, after Barca had just crushed Espanyol 1-zero in his first game in charge to move as much as sixth in La Liga.
They had wanted the assist of a doubtful Memphis Depay penalty and the submit, which Espanyol hit twice overdue within the 2nd half of at Camp Nou.
But before a frantic final 20 mins, Barcelona looked like a group at least intent on renewal, diligently obeying the wishes of their new train, notwithstanding Xaviâs tenure being simplest weeks â and in phrases of training sessions, a few days â old.
Two 17-12 months-antique wingers, Gavi and Ilias Akohomach, clung to the touchline to stretch the opposition defence.
Frenkie de Jong and the 19-year-old Nico Gonzalez have been organized to leave gaps at the back of them to be extra advanced in midfield. Everyone pressed higher and faster.
Exuberance appeared to have been endorsed, even though Xavi wanted more. âWe want to take extra risks,â he said afterwards.
The question now is how much can they hazard in opposition to Benfica, when the pressure is greater and the margin for recuperation so small? And are his crew courageous sufficient to do it?
Last week, Spain confronted Sweden in Seville, with automatic qualification for next 12 monthsâs World Cup in Qatar at stake. Spain received 1-zero however there had been gasps and groans as their team protected their lead with ambitious passing on the returned.
âThe temptation is to start to play long balls, to defend, to try to near the areas, however you understand what? If we play like that, weâre now not superb,â stated Spain educate Luis Enrique, who coached Barcelona and Xavi among 2014 and 2017.
âThe players Iâve picked are not the first-class ones to release missiles, theyâre those to have the ball, to press high, to make the pitch bigger and at the same time as that offers humans a coronary heart attack, it offers us the threat to play the sport how we need to.â
