Xavi has done a lot of good things for us and should be commended for leading us through such a turbulent time at the club. He has re-instilled faith in the La Masia pipeline to the first team, he has convinced talented players to join the club amidst financial trouble, and he has brought us back a La Liga title. Crucially, he has stood up for the players through bad form and injuries, and has been willing to take the blame for shortcomings of the team. His words the other day highlight just how much he loves the club and is willing to work hard to win but not stand in its way either should results not improve.
With that being said, it is clear from his time here that his management is not at the level needed to compete with the very best. We have not performed well against good opposition, especially in European competitions where his record has been very poor. I think we saw glimpses last season of how he wants this team to play, but we have taken steps back instead of forward. It is clear that he does not have the players he needs to play the “Pep-Klopp” hybrid that has been thrown around as his ideal tactical approach, but mind you, these are largely the players he selected in past transfer windows. See this brief tactical analysis that explains the shortcomings well: [https://twitter.com/ThePurist\_/status/1746872917558796453?ref\_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet](https://twitter.com/ThePurist_/status/1746872917558796453?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet)
I do not doubt Xavi could become a great manager. He just needs time to develop and refine his tactical profile at a club where there will be less pressure. Not to mention that our “lever pulling” was a win-now approach and we cannot afford to give Xavi years to grow here.
Thiago Motta would be a great successor to build off of what Xavi started here. He has been transforming Bologna into a very good team in Serie A despite not having world-class players there. They are one of the highest possession teams while having a very modern approach to the game that emphasizes building play through possession in deeper areas before breaking defensive lines with vertical passing. His primary principles draw largely from Bielsa (collective trust) and Low (counter-pressing), but it is worth mentioning that he was a Barcelona player himself back in the day. I think that his tactics would work very well with the players we have, and he has shown that he can properly manage players to carry out the position and role asked of them.
Here is a nice video describing his tactics: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EGh5tZSK94](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EGh5tZSK94). I think you will be able to see why he would be a great choice to take this club forward.
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by Curious_Tax_4586
5 comments
Why would we replace an inexperienced manager with another one
Is it just me, or he hated us after he left? I vaguely remember him hating us, but it’s been 13 years since then.
Why would I want to read anything from a twitter táctico that is clearly using our rough season for content. Because anything Barca is hot click bait material and social engagement especially with twitter’s monetary incentive
Motta would also not be a win-now coach. His Bologna are built off of young hungry players with something to prove, who are looking for their big transfer to a place like Barça. That’s a vastly different environment and culture than the dressing room here.
Motta’s also—unlike Xavi—never managed a team with the expectation of winning titles. Say what you will about the level of the Qatari league, but Xavi always needed to win the thing, and he did.
Maybe he’d be worth that uncertainty and has the capacity to do the job, but if what Barça needs is a coach who can take this group of players and give them a tactical structure and build a culture that will lead to titles and the cash needed to right the ship, I don’t think the answer is another similarly young and inexperienced coach, unproven at this level, who could just as easily flounder as Xavi is currently doing. Unfortunately, Barça also cannot afford that coach, whoever he is.
Can anybody tell me why this is even a question when we are
1 Current champions
2 Champions knockout stage (1st in group)
3 Alive in Copa del Rey
Xavi has had very little say in the team. I don’t think he’s gotten a single player he’s asked for. Wanted kimmich or zubimendi and we could only afford oriol. Asked for Bernardo silva and they got raphina, who is great but injured. Lewandowski is great but seems more like the opportunity and no real options of buying much for that price. Dembele left who he loved and we have no other player that destroys defenders like he did. He would miss but the stress he would cause was very helpful. I think we really need to get a Central defensive midfielder. A yaya toure type because Busquets types don’t come often. And don’t forget the injury to Gabi who pressures like gattuso