Without Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Ousmane Dembele, why does Barcelona appear illiterate?
Barcelona has had a tough time off the field during the 2022/23 season. They have faced various issues such as the Negreira case, Gavi's registration problems, and injuries to key players. Despite these challenges, Xavi and his team have remained focused on winning trophies. However, injuries have severely impacted their season, leading to their elimination from the Champions League due to key players like Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, and Ronald Araujo being unavailable. In addition, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele were not present for the Europa League games against Manchester United, while Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri were sidelined due to injuries for the second leg of the Copa del Rey clash against Real Madrid.
While these are all unlucky situations to be for Barcelona, it reeks of over-dependence. In more ways than not, it looks eerily similar to the time when Lionel Messi was at the club. Messidependencia, as culers often referred to it.
But there is a case to be made for the tactical balance of the team, and how Xavi has carved each of their roles perfectly for their profile. It suits them, and in turn, brings out the best in Barcelona.
Frenkie de Jong: First phase master
Frenkie de Jong, a Dutch midfielder, prefers to play as the first player to receive the ball from defenders during the initial stages of circulation, even though he is not a defensive midfielder. He is skilled at receiving the ball with his back to defenders, turning under pressure, and carrying the ball between lines. De Jong played in a different role under Ronald Koeman, who gave him a lot of responsibility in the final third, resulting in three goals and four assists. However, under Xavi's 4-3-3 formation, he is back in his ideal role, forming a double pivot with Sergio Busquets in possession. Barcelona's buildup is hindered by a lack of mobility in some players, as seen in their match against Getafe. Gavi, who is best between the lines, did not receive enough service, limiting Barcelona's buildup and affecting other midfielders. Ilkay Gundogan, a well-rounded midfielder from Manchester City, could be a useful signing for Barcelona as he is comfortable receiving the ball before moving up the pitch to join the second phase of buildup.
Pedri: The creator
Starting on the right side of the midfield three on paper, Pedri’s role is largely creation dependent in the middle and final third. He often moves into join the attack line, playing just behind the striker.
The Spaniard has an excellent eye in the final third and is able to break lines easily, even when asked to drop deeper to help circulation. His incredible ball control also means he has been given the license to dribble past opponents, even in high-pressure situations.
Often like Andres Iniesta, Pedri moves towards the touchline a fair bit which gives the wingers more space and time inside and near the edge of the box to finish moves.
Pedri also adapts his role according to his teammates. When deployed on the right side of the midfield while Jules Kounde is on the pitch, Pedri often drops in the channels ahead of Kounde to help in the build-up from that side and transition the ball onto the wing.
He has spoken about wanting to score more goals in the past, too, which is evidently something Xavi has worked on in the last year. Pedri has the license to enter the box to latch on to loose balls and crosses, which has resulted in him scoring a few winners, too.
The graphs below show Xavi’s productivity from inside the box this season. The Spaniard has taken 11 shots out of a total of 17 this season. That is nearly double his box shots from last season, where he only took a total of six (as many goals as he has scored in 2022/23).
2021/22
While this helps the team’s overall productivity, it massively works in favour of Robert Lewandowski as he has someone to play off just behind him. The Pole boasts of impressive anchor play, but that then leaves ample of space behind him that is unoccupied.
Xavi has tried to replicate that a couple of times using Ferran Torres as a second striker, including vs Getafe in the second half, but with little to no success.
Ousmane Dembele: The progressor
Xavi has assigned a specific role to Ousmane Dembele, utilizing his skillset as a versatile and proficient dribbler with both feet. Dembele's usual position is on the wing, where he is responsible for advancing the ball into the attacking third. His exceptional speed and footwork make him a formidable player, and Xavi can rely on him to keep the defense stable with support from a hybrid fullback like Kounde. Dembele starts his runs from the middle third of the pitch, where he receives the ball and exploits the space available in front of him. When near the edge of the penalty box, he has the option of cutting inside or sprinting forward to provide crosses for Lewandowski and other players in the box, taking advantage of the striker's aerial prowess.
The presence of Dembele in the team makes it easier for central midfielders as he stretches the pitch, creating fewer markers on them. However, Raphinha is not as good a dribbler as Dembele and prefers to play with his stronger foot, limiting his ability to stretch the flank. On the other hand, Raphinha is better than Dembele at progressing the ball through his passing and has a wider range of creativity in the final third. Raphinha's partnership with Pedri, who is currently absent, was also beneficial as they often played quick one-twos near the box, giving Raphinha more time and space to attack. Dembele's absence is a disadvantage for the team, as Xavi has been able to take advantage of his ability to transition from defence to attack by himself. Without him, Lewandowski is often left isolated in the final third and depends on service from the wings or a supporting figure like Pedri to perform at his best.
It is unfortunate that Barcelona has had to do without three of their top players, who are also key players, during important knockout matches and as they approach the final stages of the league title. To move forward, Xavi should look for unconventional tactical solutions. Although other players like Gundogan, Ez Abde, and Yannick Carrasco have comparable abilities and could take on similar roles, relying on these substitutes too much could make the team's tactics predictable. Therefore, Barcelona needs to constantly adjust and modify their tactics to avoid becoming too predictable.
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