BarcelonaAgainst Getafe, Xavi Hernández opted for Jules Kounde as central and Ronald Araujo as right-back. In this way, the Frenchman was able to play in his preferred position and the Uruguayan once again performed the functions of the of the. The formula that usually serves to deal with Vinícius was also the one chosen in the face to face with Jaime Mata. The Getafe striker stands out for other things, but not precisely for his speed or his ability to lose balance. What was Xavi looking for by ordering the right sector of his defense in this way?
It is likely that the main target had more to do with Kounde’s characteristics as a center back than with what Araujo can bring as a winger. Certainly, the Frenchman offered a clean and creative first pass. His actions on the ball often served to break lines and connect with midfielders.
Kounde also occasionally looked for the direct pass to Lewandowski for him to offload and head inside, but the Pole didn’t have his best day. The ex-Seville player even dared with drives that sought to attract and fix some rival to, subsequently, look for the free partner on his back. This is a tactical concept that Xavi insisted to Christensen during the first-half hydration break. The Dane, in this sense, did not lavish and that is probably why De Jong played central in the second half. But what about Araujo on the side?
The presence of the open Uruguayan on the wing in Getafe did not help the team generate the volume of play necessary to unsettle the opposition. In modern football, the full-backs are increasingly important, and they are especially so because of the tasks they are entrusted with with the ball at their feet. The footballer charrúa, superb in defensive duels, is improving his performances on the ball, but these are still far from what is required of the full-backs of dominant teams. Especially against opponents who defend close and concede few spaces, it is essential to have full-backs with a high technical level, and resources and creativity in the opposite field.
The ability to combine with team-mates, to make walls with pace and agility, to get inside to offer an extra pass in the midfield or to stretch out if the front end is looking for inside areas. All these are resources that Araujo, right now, cannot offer playing on the side. So, against rivals like Getafe, another player profile will be necessary in this position. In the end, playing with Kounde as a central player and Araujo as a full-back was stripping one saint to put on another. Barça did well with the center on the right, but got stuck with the full-back in that same area.
A signing that would meet the requirements set out in these lines would be João Cancelo. The Portuguese is a footballer of a great technical level. He dominates both legs, knows how to weave good combinations with his teammates, has game vision and a great range of resources in the opposite field with shots and passes. Cancelo is a great centre-back. With the interior, or also with the exterior, his crosses are poisonous for the rival and silky for the finishers. The unknowns presented by the Portuguese player are rather related to aspects of his character and mentality, but that is already figs in another basket.
2023-08-16 05:45:49
#Xavi #Hernándezs #Barça #clamoring #Joao #Cancelo
