Pupils on the way to Master: Barça's rise under Xavi

At the end of October last year, Barcelona's President Joan Laporta had enough. He pulled the tear, separated from coach Ronald Koeman. The coach had always stood in the critique before, but the 0: 1 at Rayo Vallecano on the 11th matchday was too much. It was already early in the season Barça's third defeat, the Catalans roared in 9th place around. So it had to change a change.

• The truth also belongs: The squad was clearly better
• Dembelé suddenly important
• A new era goes on
• Pedri could give the Xavi

Only: Who get? It was at the end of the desired candidate: Xavi. An absolute barça legend as a player. LaPorta's decision was quite brave, the Spaniard had previously worked as a coach only two years in Qatar at Al-Sadd Doha. But the decision should turn out as a golden.

Xavier Hernandez I Creus, as Xavi means full name, Barcelona has undertaken new life. At the beginning there was a little out of round, the 42-year-old could not turn off in the Champions League, but after a few weeks, players and coach found more and better together. In the last 14 league games there were ten victories and four draws. In the Europa League, Barcelona is located in the quarter-finals and now meets this and next Thursday (21 pm, live! At President Joan) on Eintracht Frankfurt.

The truth also belongs: The squad was clearly better

In the league, Barcelona is now in second place and is suddenly the sharpest pursuer of Real Madrid, although the residue is ridden twelve points (with a game less). The question arises: How did Xavi only manage that? Of course, the truth also belongs that the former world-class midfielder has a much better squad available than predecessor Koeman.

In the winter, Barcelona acquired money that was not before. The 38-year-old Dani Alves came with it. He was already committed earlier, but was allowed to play from January. For 55 million euros, Barça Ferran Torres by Manchester City. In addition, Adama Traoré was borrowed by Wolverhampton and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was launched by FC Arsenal. Like the Catalans financially, stands on another leaf, but the fact is: the new players help the team enormously.

Dembelé suddenly important

Suddenly important: Ousmane Dembelé. Nurphoto Via Getty Images

Traoré, especially at the beginning, hit Aubameyang already met in eight league games seven times and Ferran Torres has proven his qualities with four league effects. Speaking of Aubameyang: After his arrival, suddenly, Ousman Dembelé is doing well again. The Frenchman should leave the club immediately in winter, which was clearly communicated. However, a customer did not find himself - and so the former BVB professional remained. At Xavi there was a strange rethinking in the episode, and suddenly Dembelé is important for the team. The Frenchman is currently set, paying back with performance. Especially the symbiosis with Aubameyang, with which he already blinded to BVB times is noticeable.

Xavi has apparently managed to handle Dembelé's right with the very difficult character. And so at the moment a wheel reaches the other. The machinery runs velvet like the impressive 4: 0 in the Bernabeu at Rival Real. Also the latest 1-0 against the previous table-second Seville shows the new strength of the Catalans.

A new era goes on

Xavi should shape a new era in Catalonia - and he is on the best way. In Barcelona one hopes for the same as a Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola, which were even for years of players at Barça and later shaped a coach era. Xavi briefly played with Guardiola and then many years as a player under the football specialist. It was undoubtedly one of the best Barça teams ever given. With the famous notorious "Tiki Tika" the Catalans dominated for years of European football.

Xavi was as a player of one of the most important parts of the Guardiola system, on the field of extended arm of the coach. Together with Andres Iniesta, he moved the stripping in midfield and knew the ingenious offensive players to always use Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o or Thierry Henry. Xavi has learned a lot under the meticulous worker, much taken for his current still young trainer car.

Like his "teacher", Xavi puts great importance of possession, but not as extreme as Guardiola practiced it until today at Manchester City. The Xavi Barcelona has many parts of the Guardiola Barcelona, but also differences. It's also about the wings with flanks or it is shot out of the distance. In the "Tiki Taka" time the ball was felt every time worn into the gate.

Pedri could give the Xavi

Xavi is currently successfully creating a mix of past and modern football. The success gives him right until date. The Barcelona under Koeman, Quique Setia or Ernesto Valverde often did not have much possession, which has changed under Xavi now. But of course, the new system also needs time. And it needs faces.

That's exactly what the FC Barcelona has again. The team has many young talents to whom the future belongs. One of the biggest jewels in the squad is midfield director Pedri, who recently decepted with his dreams at Galatasaray and Seville. The 19-year-old is a very fine footballer, just like it was Xavi earlier. But talents like Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Nico or Ansu Fati belongs to the future.

And with Xavi you have a coach that can shape these young talents. The former Guardiola student, who is currently on the way to the master.

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