Xavi probably saw Dinamo-Barça with a notebook and pen in Doha. In two games, he will be in the technical area of the Camp Nou directing the city derby against Espanyol. From the Kiev Olimpiyskiy party he was able to extract some green sprout to use when closing his exit from Al Sadd and replacing the interim Sergi. A boat soon, here are five sparks.
1. The quarry. Sergi admitted that he directed the speech prior to the game against Dinamo Kiev towards the sentimental, to touch the fiber of some players who, in a good number have grown up in the house: Mingueza, Eric, Alba, Busquets, Nico Gavi, Ansu , Bucket … And they responded. Especially Nico and Gavi, who are the great sensations of Baça this season.
2. Creativity. Related to the quarry, Barça can start to think about building a team through midfielders. While Sergio Busquets, a committed captain who left what he had and what he didn’t have in Kiev, will lead the boat. De Jong must again take a step forward like last season but his size as a player is undeniable. Nico and Gav are discoveries and Barça is still waiting for Pedri, who was essential last season but whose 75 games in a year, without braking, have cost him muscle problems.
3. Ansu. Essential at Barça. With Kun Agüero injured, he is the only real killer that the squad has. Just renewed until 2027, he must become the Barça franchise player. He has three goals in seven games despite not being at the top, as he himself has admitted.
4. Dembélé. Despite his outstanding injury history and sometimes wrong decision making on the field (which was already improving last season), his reappearance was a breath of fresh air. Without the stars of other seasons, he should assume responsibilities and become one of the undisputed stars of the team. But for that you need regularity and stability in physical appearance.
5. Ter Stegen. After missing several games and conceding goals on the first shot on goal, he pulled out a good hand at the last minute against Dynamo Kiev. Something like a “here I am” in a difficult moment for the German, that he has not been the same since his knee operations and that, like other teammates like Frenkie de Jong or Memphis, they need to recover their best moment.