Xavi's project is the renaissance the club has needed for so long; against all the odds, he's brought them back from the void.
But for true greatness, Barça need even more.
To conquer all, they first need to conquer their own demons, starting with the ones of old.
|THREAD| 🧵
But for true greatness, Barça need even more.
To conquer all, they first need to conquer their own demons, starting with the ones of old.
|THREAD| 🧵
Before I begin, I want to emphasise how grateful we should be for Xavi; to say he's saved us when we needed it the most would be an understatement.
But we cannot neglect the issues that he's still facing; ignoring them won't make them go away.
In fact, that's how projects die.
But we cannot neglect the issues that he's still facing; ignoring them won't make them go away.
In fact, that's how projects die.
I've analysed ALL of that in detail in the latest piece on @BarcaFutbolLive blog and you can find it below.
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Read 👇
barcafutbol.blog
Subscribing is FREE so we would appreciate all the support.
Together, we're building something big but need your help to get there!
Read 👇
barcafutbol.blog
@BarcaFutbolLive 1.5y ago, I wrote a piece on some of the biggest issues Xavi's Barcelona project had been facing at the time:
— Forced verticality
— Compactness
— Defensive awareness
— Tracking/intensity
These were the flaws keeping them from ascending into the elite.
barcafutbol.blog
— Forced verticality
— Compactness
— Defensive awareness
— Tracking/intensity
These were the flaws keeping them from ascending into the elite.
barcafutbol.blog
@BarcaFutbolLive Fast forward to today & Barcelona are still haunted by those demons; demons of old that kill projects.
Back then, I theorised recurring issues potentially signal either the inability of the coach to identify them or a failure of coaching in trying to fix them.
Both worrisome.
Back then, I theorised recurring issues potentially signal either the inability of the coach to identify them or a failure of coaching in trying to fix them.
Both worrisome.
@BarcaFutbolLive So what do we know about Barcelona's 2023/24 defensive performance?
The sample size is drastically different but the trend seems to be forming already; they are facing higher quality chances, conceding higher xG across all phases & are structurally shaky.
Comparison below 📊
The sample size is drastically different but the trend seems to be forming already; they are facing higher quality chances, conceding higher xG across all phases & are structurally shaky.
Comparison below 📊
@BarcaFutbolLive The strange thing is, however, that Barceona's pressing is statistically superior this season.
Their passes allowed per defensive actions (PPDA) is lower, indicating more intensity in the press, and both gegenpressing index & effectiveness are higher than in 22/23.
🤔
Their passes allowed per defensive actions (PPDA) is lower, indicating more intensity in the press, and both gegenpressing index & effectiveness are higher than in 22/23.
🤔
@BarcaFutbolLive if the pressing is better and more effective, it should, in theory, indicate an improvement in the defensive record as well. But that's not nearly the case.
This Barcelona may press better but it doesn't make them better defenders overall.
Why? 🔽
This Barcelona may press better but it doesn't make them better defenders overall.
Why? 🔽
@BarcaFutbolLive Pressing has always been one of Xavi's biggest chance creation tools & that remains true.
If the press is successful, Barça turn it into a dangerous situation. But if it's not & the first line gets bypassed, the opposition gets an easy chance instead.
High risk, high reward.
If the press is successful, Barça turn it into a dangerous situation. But if it's not & the first line gets bypassed, the opposition gets an easy chance instead.
High risk, high reward.
@BarcaFutbolLive However, it shouldn't be so black and white; not every failed pressing attempt should result in Barcelona being cut open in a couple of passes.
But it happens regularly.
Why?
• Not pressing as a unit
• No defensive awareness
• Not tracking runners
• Lacking rest defence
But it happens regularly.
Why?
• Not pressing as a unit
• No defensive awareness
• Not tracking runners
• Lacking rest defence
@BarcaFutbolLive Generally, Barcelona's pressing relies on the athleticism of individuals rather than the effectiveness of the structure.
The game against Granda was full of damning examples:
— Pressing with inferior numbers (3v4 first line, 2v3 second line) ❌
— Huge distance between lines ↔
The game against Granda was full of damning examples:
— Pressing with inferior numbers (3v4 first line, 2v3 second line) ❌
— Huge distance between lines ↔
@BarcaFutbolLive Against Porto, Barcelona were fortunate not to concede because their defensive structure was leaky to say the least.
Notice the same issues in the example below:
— Pressing with inferior numbers
— Huge distance between lines
Virtually every Porto player can freely receive.
Notice the same issues in the example below:
— Pressing with inferior numbers
— Huge distance between lines
Virtually every Porto player can freely receive.
@BarcaFutbolLive Lack of intensity & tracking the runners meant Porto could easily create isolations & exploit the space behind the defenders while the lack of compactness gave them enough space and time to then capitalise on it.
In as many as two passes, Barcelona are completely unlocked. 🔓
In as many as two passes, Barcelona are completely unlocked. 🔓
@BarcaFutbolLive And the worst thing about this is how easily the opposition can create overloads against such a dysfunctional defensive structure.
Sevilla were another benefactor of those same flaws; they exploited the lack of compactness, tracking and intensity to progress & create.
📸👇
Sevilla were another benefactor of those same flaws; they exploited the lack of compactness, tracking and intensity to progress & create.
📸👇
@BarcaFutbolLive Barcelona couldn't close down the players in time as their defenders had large distances to cover to reach the markers in the first place.
If you're highly reliant on man-marking then you're also highly reliant on intensity in tracking.
Former without the latter doesn't work.
If you're highly reliant on man-marking then you're also highly reliant on intensity in tracking.
Former without the latter doesn't work.
@BarcaFutbolLive Here are two more examples. Can you recognise the patterns again? 🤔
Hint: we talked about all of them already.
And we did so in this thread AND a year and a half ago at the start of Xavi's tenure.
Hint: we talked about all of them already.
And we did so in this thread AND a year and a half ago at the start of Xavi's tenure.
@BarcaFutbolLive The final thing I'd like to highlight is the rest defence issue.
Possession-heavy sides will always be susceptible to counter-attacks; even the elite teams whose in and out-of-possession structures may eclipse that of Barcelona are prone to suffering against them.
Possession-heavy sides will always be susceptible to counter-attacks; even the elite teams whose in and out-of-possession structures may eclipse that of Barcelona are prone to suffering against them.
@BarcaFutbolLive While prevention is key, sometimes all you can do is minimise the damage.
One way to do that is through the way you organise your safety net in possession.
Does Barcelona have that nailed down? 🤔
Explore it in the full piece. 👇
barcafutbol.blog
One way to do that is through the way you organise your safety net in possession.
Does Barcelona have that nailed down? 🤔
Explore it in the full piece. 👇
barcafutbol.blog
@BarcaFutbolLive Barcelona are a team capable of greatness & while they have the potential for it, they are still not there yet.
That doesn't mean they can't or won't get there.
But the best way to start is by fixing recurring issues that can kill the project Xavi has worked so hard to build.
That doesn't mean they can't or won't get there.
But the best way to start is by fixing recurring issues that can kill the project Xavi has worked so hard to build.
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