And manos de Luuk de Jong

The new era of Barcelona announced by Xavi Hernández after defeat in Munich that sent the culé team to the Europa League starts this Sunday in Pamplona in a key game of the League against Osasuna, in which the Blaugrana coach may be forced to use one of the players he has used the least since he took over the bench: Luke deJong.

The injury of Memphis Depay, which joins the losses of Agüero, Ansu Fati and Braithwaite, they leave the striker on loan from Sevilla as the only center forward option. That the new era remains in the hands of Luuk de Jong, unless Xavi draws a system without a center forward, it is still a paradox.

Luuk de Jong arrived at Barcelona on the last market day when Griezmann left for Atlético de Madrid on loan from Sevilla at the request of Ronald Koeman, who used it regularly from the beginning, but who fell into ostracism since before the Dutch coach’s dismissal.

De Jong has played 19 minutes since October 24 in ten games playeds, that is, not two minutes per game since he played 45 minutes in the Blaugrana victory against Dinamo Kiev at the Camp Nou.

Eight minutes. In fact, since his arrival, Xavi has pointed to Luuk de Jong as a player likely to go out in the winter market since he only made him play the last eight minutes of the match against Betis to try to tie a duel that was escaping. However, now Luuk appears as the only lifeline in attack.

With a non-negotiable system of extremes, Barcelona is, however, orphaned of an auctioneer, as evidenced by their meager numbers in attack. In Pamplona, ​​it is most likely that Xavi will be able to start with his two favorite wingers: Dembélé and Abde, but a reference would be missing in attack. Like it or not, the only one there is Luuk de Jong.

Unless Xavi continues without trusting the Dutch forward and organize a game system with a false center forward. A system similar to that used by Ronald Koeman last season, in which Dembélé played as a false center forward. A scheme that worked in Seville in a key game for Barcelona and that he also used in Paris in the second leg against PSG, but with less luck because the French winger converted into a striker missed all the chances he had.

So there is no other choice but to decide whether the new era begins with a de Jong evicted or an alternative is invented in the face of the injuries that plague the Blaugrana forward from now on and until at least next year.

Barcelona’s efforts to reinforce the attack are accelerating in the face of the winter market because Joan Laporta promised Xavi Hernández at least two reinforcements in attack positions facing the winter market.

Barcelona have a gigantic problem with the goal. In two seasons, ehe team has lost almost a hundred goals with the departure of Luis Suárez, Leo Messi and Griezmann, while only Memphis and De Jong have arrived.