A hole on the right

Of all the doubts that Barça has presented in Xavi’s first two games, the one that has attracted the most attention is that of the right wing, where the first two tests of the coach in LaLiga have not worked. Against Espanyol, Òscar Mingueza’s seams were seen as soon as De Tomás fell through his area. He conceded too much and, although he competes, he is a limited player. Things were not better at La Cerámica, where Xavi opted for a mixed system in which Eric Garcia had to perform a strange central-lateral function that ended with a strange individual marking for Moi Gómez. so that Villarreal did not create numerical superiority in the center of the field. In addition to a bad pass that ended in the action of the unmarked penalty from Piqué, Eric suffered, although it can be said that it was more a matter of system than a problem of the player himself. Of course, it is obvious that Eric feels more comfortable in a line of four than with three centrals. He had already suffered there in Lisbon against Benfica.

The fact is that Barça has doubts on the right wing. Perhaps that is why the signing of Daniel Alves at the age of 38 was improvised. Curious situation, because Barça started the season, theoretically, with three right-backs. They were Sergiño Dest, Emerson and Sergi Roberto. The urgencies in the club’s economy forced the Brazilian to sell Tottenham, who could barely make his LaLiga debut. Sergi Roberto is being the victim of an injury that does not remit and, in addition, he has been questioned by the stands. ANDhe most surprising case is that of Sergiño Dest. Recovered from his last injury, Xavi has barely given him minutes since his arrival. Possibly it has to do with the change in the system in the games against Benfica and Villarreal. It seems logical to think that when Barça returns to the defense of four, the Dutchman with an American passport will be the chosen one, although it remains to be seen that he will be a player of the coach’s taste. At the moment, Xavi has not chosen him for the side and neither for the winger position where Koeman used it. There he has given Demir and Abde opportunities.

In the current scenario, it is not ruled out to end up seeing Daniel Alves more minutes than expected. For now, his condition will have to be seen in the Maradona Cup to be held in Arabia on December 14. Xavi has to explore the question of the right wing well.