Xavi is preparing a tactical shift at Barcelona for the upcoming season.
Xavi and his Barcelona teammates are presently preparing for the start of the new season and the start of their championship defense after winning La Liga the previous season.
There have already been some changes to the playing staff, with the arrivals of Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez, and Xavi is reported to be preparing some tactical alterations.
According to La Vanguardia, Barcelona's coach has a "tactical surprise" or two up his sleeve for the forthcoming season.
Xavi plans to use a 3-4-3 system at times, which the newspaper calls "his most groundbreaking and risky proposal" since taking over the team.
The coach has already informed several players about his objectives, notably Jules Kounde, which helped persuade the Frenchman to continue at the club following a season spent mostly at right-back.
Kounde or Ronald Araujo are set to start on the right, with Inigo Martinez on the left and Andreas Christensen in the center.
Xavi will then line up with four midfielders in front of his defense. The manager prefers Oriol Romeu as his pivot, with Frenkie de Jong playing in a more free role in center midfield.
New signee Ilkay Gundogan is also expected to start, leaving Pedri and Gavi to compete for the last midfield berth.
Xavi wants Alejandro Balde to play on the left flank further forward. The child will have "total freedom of movement in attack and defense."
Ousmane Dembele will play on the opposite flank as usual, with Robert Lewandowski as the striker. Ansu Fati will be Dembele and Lewandowski's backup.
Xavi's Barcelona XI in 2023-24? Ter Stegen; Araujo, Christensen, Martinez; Romeu, De Jong, Pedri, Gundogan; Dembele, Lewandowski, Balde; Dembele, Lewandowski, Balde.
Robert Lewandowski will also be traveling out to meet the squad after Barcelona finalised a deal with Bayern Munich for the striker.
Lewandowski has previously stated that he will travel to meet with his new squad before returning to Germany to bid farewell to Bayern.
"These eight years were special; you never forget that." I had a fantastic time in Munich. "I'm going to fly soon, but after training camp, I'll be back to properly say goodbye and organize a few things," he stated.
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