AFCON 2025
By Chima Azu
Barcelona wasted a three goal advantage after going 3:0 up in the first half to play out a 3:3 draw away to Celta Vigo who has been their bogey team virtually every season and were yet to score a goal in their last five matches; that states how terrible this current Barca team is.
In the last game before Xavi Hernandez will take over his new role as the head coach of his boyhood club they wasted a three goal lead after going ahead with goals from Ansu Fati, Busquet and Memphis Deepay. The first half was all too easy as the Catalans were cruising and doing what they know how to do best by keeping possession, playing accurate passes and using the entire depth of the pitch. Going into the break it was like Barca were out of sight and will make it two wins in a role but that was not going to be the case at the end of the day and Iago Aspas scored twice and former Barcelona boy Nolito scored once.
Xavi definitely has a lot of work to do with his new team especially in terms of results which the team really needs. That aside, the team is currently low in confidence and that is another thing the new manager will have to deal with. Also there are a lot of first team players out injured (Pedro, Braithwaite, Aguero, Pique, Dest, Dembele, Eric Garcia, Gavi and Ansu Fati).
The former Barca legend also have to deal with whether to put his former teammates who are no longer what they use to be on the bench; the likes of Pique, Alba and Busquet. It will take a lot of gut from him to do that, but that might probably be to the advantage of the team. Pep Guardiola, did that when appointed as Barca coach decided to sell the likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and later Eto’o and kept faith with younger players, which paid dividends with him winning 6 trophies in his first season. Also, the issue of the financial crisis still lingers meaning Xavi has to make do with the current crop of players at his disposal until the team can afford to sign the kind of players the new coach wants.
With all being said, Barcelona fans will be hoping that Xavi would bring the team back to it’s glory days, how long will that take; only time will tell. But as things stands it is not looking like Xavi will be having a rollercoaster ride for the meantime.
