Xavi’s making commendable headway whilst Barcelona desperately try to undo years of mismanagement

You always knew what you were going to get from Xavi when he was appointed Barcelona boss. Indeed, the 42-year-old never tried to hide the fact that if he ever returned to the Nou Camp as manager of Barcelona, he would bring with him the footballing philosophy that saw him win 17 major trophies in as many years as a player of the club. 

After just 83 days in the Barca hot seat, you can see signs of that promise being fulfilled as the Blaugrana try to play as much of their football as possible in the opposition’s half. It was of course a much more streamlined exercise in Xavi’s day given that he had Andres Iniesta next to him and the two toyed with the opposition teams like a cat would a mouse. In this sense, Xavi is having to be patient with his young charges as he waits for them to implement his style like clockwork. However, as briefly alluded to, there are encouraging developments at the Nou Camp in terms of playing with an identity that is a throwback to 2010 and the results are beginning to show for it. 

In fact, few would have predicted that Barcelona would already be in touching distance of the coveted Champions League spots after Ronald Koeman’s sacking. In reality, Barca’s league campaign had gone so violently off the rails under the Dutchman that Champions League football during the 2022/2023 season looked an impossibility. It’s safe to say that this outlook has completely changed now with Barca just a point behind fifth thanks to Xavi getting the season back on track. 

In short, it has been a managerial journey so far that has captivated the world given how popular La Liga is and how prolific Xavi was during his playing days with that formidable Barcelona team that dominated European competition season after season. Of course, Real Madrid are the best team in La Liga these days though and you only need to look at the odds from around the world to realize this is not speculation but concrete fact. Take the online betting in Australia for instance and the odds bet365 are offering of 1/9 on Los Blancos winning La Liga this season, there certainly isn’t any ambiguity there. There is good reason, however, to believe that Xavi will close the gap on Barcelona’s greatest rival next season. 

Crucially, the 42-year-old plans to do this with the help of the famed La Masia academy. Indeed, the former midfield maestro has used as many as eight starlets from the academy as he puts his faith in youth to help restore Barca’s former glories. Once again, you had a feeling that Xavi would do this when he was awarded the job given that he joined this same fabled academy when he was just 11 years old. Tellingly, there probably isn’t a person at the club right now with a greater appreciation of La Masia and the good it can do for Barca in the long run than Xavi.

With that said, the youth will need to be ably supported by the world’s best players and after letting Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, and Lionel Messi go in recent items, Barca will need to add some proven quality to their front line if they are to challenge for the La Liga title next season. That is undoubtedly the biggest area for improvement under Xavi given that failing to do this will undo all the foundations he is currently putting in place. 

Although someone as shrewd as Xavi will know as much and the signing of Ferran Torres from Man City was a step in the right direction as far as adding some much-needed balance to the top of the pitch goes. 

This of course is a marathon project and not a sprint after all the mismanagement that has taken place at the Nou Camp over the last few years. So far and with this in mind, you would have to say that Xavi’s report card reads that he is doing very well with only a small need for improvement with regards to personnel for next season’s assault on the La Liga title.