For all the communicate of Xavi being the person to are available in and teach Barcelona the way to play football again, he did the complete opposite on Saturday towards Villarreal.
The tiki-taka icon became meant to bring in a new generation of quick, silky passing and possession dominance. We saw that for 15 mins on Saturday, and then Xavi seemingly determined he changed into bored of it.
Having watched Ez Abde, Memphis Depay and Gavi all almost rating within the first seven or 8 mins, Xavi decided to surrender trying to rating and targeted totally on protecting.
He clipped Abde's wings, asking the youngster - who was Barcelona's brightest forward on the time - to guy-mark Villarreal left-back Alfonso Pedraza, in addition to tasking makeshift proper-returned Eric Garcia with doing the identical to winger Moi Gomez.
Not best did it now not paintings, but it honestly killed any momentum Barcelona had. They were dominant for the first 15 mins, and the second Xavi made this alteration, it all disappeared and Villarreal could have without problems had three or 4 dreams within the first 1/2.
Garcia turned into requested to follow Gomez actually anywhere. Already out of function on the proper, the Spaniard ended up within the coronary heart of midfield due to this mission, leaving Pedraza with an ocean of space in advance of him and only young Abde to try and forestall him.
Unsurprisingly, Abde struggled with that task. He's now not a defender and has barely played any senior football. Why Xavi idea that would be a very good idea is all of us's wager.
The tactic wasn't as obvious within the 2nd half, however the damage become done at that point. Villarreal had the wind of their sails and Barcelona looked enormously worried and unsure of themselves.
That uncertainty changed into punished by way of Samu Chukwueze, and it regarded as even though Villarreal have been going to head on and win the sport before a simple long ball from Marc-Andre ter Stegen allowed Memphis to store the day.
The relief on Xavi's face changed into obvious, and Philippe Coutinho's past due penalty most effective amplified that. The boss knew his side had snatched a win that, due to him, they in all likelihood didn't deserve.
