Xavi Fernandez is back in Barcelona but this time as a coach. His homecoming coincides with the turbulent times Barca is going through at present. After losing Messi and considerable financial health, the Spanish club is struggling hard to stay afloat in the Spanish and Champions Leagues. On top of these difficulties, shocking losses haven’t helped its cause. Now, Xavi needs to bring to the table all the skills and experience he used as a Barca player to help the Spanish giant regain the glory of yore. Let us look at the problems Xavi needs to immediately address at the Catalan Club.
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Monetary Mess
It is no mystery that Barca is financially in dire straits. It has already run up a debt to the tune of 1.35 bn Euros, the main reason it could not keep Messi in the fold. However, things can turn for the better monetarily if it qualifies for the Champions League next season. This is not exactly a mission impossible but considering the form of certain players in the squad, the task seems herculean currently. This is where Xavi needs to use the man-management skills he acquired at the Qatari club, Al Sadd, to bring the best out of the resources he has at his disposal.
Enhancing The Quality Of Play
Barca no longer possesses the talents of Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Iniesta but the Catalan club still has players with immense potential to beat the best in the league circuit. So, Xavi needs to take a creative approach and also bring in a sense of clarity to the team’s cause, which was clearly missing during the reign of Ronald Koeman. The former Barcelona player has to instill the culture of ball possession with a contemporary counter-attacking game among the current crop of players in the club.
Striking The Perfect Balance
Barca has the right mix of youth and experience. It has the likes of Ansu Fati, Pedri, Gavi etc who bring in youthful exuberance. Then with Gerard Pique, Jordy Alba etc it gets some valuable experience. So, Xavi has to combine these talents to forge a formidable unit going forward. If he can properly blend youth with experience then Barca can be assured of a promising future ahead.
Forget Messi As Soon As Possible
It seems Barcelona is yet to reconcile with the absence of Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend took the club to greater heights during his long tenure in Spain and it is almost impossible to replace an impact player like him. Also, the club is in no position for a high-profile signing like Kylian Mbappe. So, Xavi should assist the existing members to regain the confidence that the Spanish club can still be an intimidating side without Messi.
The Ever-growing List Of Injuries
It goes without saying that Xavi has inherited a star-crossed team. Apart from the series of defeats that have put their Champion’s League qualification in danger, the club also has some injury-related issues. Pique, Fati, Garcia the list of unfit members is burgeoning currently. With so many critical matches round the corner, Xavi needs to utilize the available resources judiciously for Barca to harbour any hopes of making it to Europe’s elite competition.
