WHAT COULD XAVI’S SOLUTION BE?
In Balaídos, was not the most positive performance of Vitor Roque with the FC Barcelona. It came of two parties in which it had arrived to besar the saint from the bench, against Osasuna and Sportive Alavés, but in his first titularity left feelings found that finish with his replacement before the hour of party and, besides, with negative numbers: nine stray balloons, only two duels won, a key pass and four passes failed of 12 tried.
It is a player that is still in full process of adaptation and that, as they keep from the Barça, needs patience and time. In the club there are not worries, because they know that they have fichado from the Paranaense to one of the most promising forwards of Brazil. It is a footballer that marks the difference when it is in the area, that generates occasions from the controls oriented and that constantly is throwing desmarques to facilitate the ‘tasks’ to his mates.
The ‘problem’ is that, in his first titularity with the culés, in the initial approach appeared much more move# away of the area, like an extreme playing to leg changed, by the izquieda. It is very true that, so that Joao Cancel could have of the band, finished playing by the internal lanes, where usually received the balloon and distributed. In paper, was not a bad plan, but yes left the doubt of how can fit him Xavi Hernández so that it show his best version when, at least for now, is not in conditions to remove him the titularity to Robert Lewandowski.
Change of formula for Xavi?
The Pole is treating to claim in this 2024 to base of goals. It carries three days followed seeing goal (4 targets) and seemed that it is taking a step forward to be the ‘same’ of always. This leaves to Roque with very few options to appear in the XI as ‘9’ pure. In fact, in the majority of occasions has split by the left. Going in of acting, marked two targets benefiting of his freshness and, also, fatigue of the rival. Like titling, it is necessary to explore new roads so that it can ‘join up’ to a Barça ‘of Lewandowski’.
The most logical option is the one who already presented Xavi against the RC Celtic, in which nominalmente split like right extreme but finished playing by behind Lewandowski in a lot of occasions. Yes that they have to improve a lot of automatisms, although probably it was not an alternative when it play Gündogan. With the ‘9’, would be a form to keep him near of the area and that it can have incidence. Everything will depend, also, that it can have luck and be ‘fine’ in the last metres.
The options on the table with Vitor Roque
Another possibility is that the trainer of Terrassa bet by a 4-2-2 that allow him play with two pure forwards, something to what is not habituado this Barça because, in front of the fault of a ‘9’ acting, always has bet for jointing to Lewandowski with an extreme. Lamine Yamal has been, in the last weeks, the elected. It can be a movement that allow to the two ‘killers’ be in the area and in which Pedri González would split like a false extreme, something that yes has repeated in reiterated opportunities.
A newer alternative would be with a 4-2-3-1, although it would be ‘complicated’ that Xavi renounce to a piece in the centre of the field. In this case, by in front of the two midfield players could situate Pedri by the left (also of false extreme) Lamine/Raphinha by the right side and Roque like second tip, by behind Lewandowski. It seemed an option more for ‘freshen’ to the team in the second part that a plan from the start.
