How Xavi changed Barcelona’s identity 

People should realize that Xavi's task is far more monumental than Pep when he coached Barca. Pep inherited Rijkaard team that had two seasons on a lower level, but still managed to reach CL semis against Man U and lost by a single goal, that team had Xavi at 28 or so, Iniesta at 24, and of course the future GOAT at 20 about to hit his prime. I'm not trying to discredit Pep, he did turn those players from great to absolutely phenomenal, but he did catch Barcelona at a far better moment. Xavi inherited a club in ashes more like Rijkaard in his first season, but without a Ronaldinho to add that special quality for big games. No Messi, ageing Busquets and Pique, and absolutely no structure left by the incompetent Bartomeu. He is basically rebuilding from scratch, and this is just his first full season. Even Pep struggled to get both Bayern and City off the ground with his style on his first attempt, and Pep Bayern were treble winners, and City had far more established players. So hopefully people don't judge Xavi by unfair and out of context standards, but I won't hold my breath.

I think Barca neads squad depth to become really competitive. It´s alarming that when 3 players are missing (Pedri, Dembele and De Jong) you stop being a dominant team and start struggling and losing games. Great video, thank you!

best football page on youtube

This season's Barcelona kit was gorgeous. A fitting armour for the conquers of La Liga. This will go down as an icon football shirt.

Xavi has understood that tiki-taka is dead. You cannot play tiki-taka without Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets-Messi. Being an inexperienced manager with a young squad, he has done a fantastic job. With time, the tactics will be more polished and we'll see significant improvement. Don't forget that Zidane, Pep, Lucho all inherited well established squads with world class players.

I've been thinking Xavi being direct is influenced by the fact that he hasn't gotten the team/players where he wanted yet. So he's compromising to win few titles to take away little bit of pressure. More possession might be his long term goal but unless get get specific kind players and some of the players needs to develop and understand the basics first.

Lets not forget that this is the first year of xavi with a team that has not experiencie. The best part its yet to come!!

Our xGA worries me. A lot of those 1-0 wins we've scraped this season will probably turn into 1-1s if we don't sort out what makes us concede so many chances. So far Ter Stegen is covering up our inadequacies but as we saw when Ernesto Valverde overperformed his xG and xGA, it doesn't work on the biggest stage. Need better depth, but sadly our finances won't allow

When this Barca get a good physical condition and experience enough to compete against the big clubs un Europe and being mentally strong when difficult times come, this Barca will be able to win the Champions

Great video. I think the next season will provide some more answers about the quality of Xavi's work. He clearly did a great job and reestablished Barça as a national force in Spain, but at the cost of mediocre performances in Europe and a painful loss to Real at Copa del Rey. My bet is that Barça will contend for another La Liga title if everything goes to plan, specially in the financial and squad building part, but the european performance will be more important than it was this season.

Johan cruyff said ""Quality without results is pointless. Results without quality is boring." Sometimes people have this idea of Barcelona's play as being 2000 side passes and 80 percent possession, but in real football a good coach finds balance of style and effectiveness. That's why Pep is still at the top, and Xavi has remade Barca

Since it has now been known that busquets will leave barca, I would love to see you make a video on: 1. why he was very integral to this club's success for the past 15 years. 2. The repercussions of his leaving to Xavi's plans. And 3. How he's gonna be replaced.

Faster means less risk and less reliant on Pedri. KInda an inevitable change

Xavi's Barca is like the complete opposite of Valverde's Barca (last to win La Liga). Valverde was all about Ball retention, long spells of possession, even sacrificing Counters for possession. I love Xavi's higher intensity compared to Valverde's super slow football with minimal movement.

the play style may change, but the principles remain

The reason i want messi back is not only sentimental or what he is capable of individually but how much this man understands football and tempo and how to control it

People throw words like inexperience & physique around about Xavi and his squad, but tell that to Bernardo Silva against Bayern. A talent & and a good plan trumps that and clearly Xavi is on the right track with his current squad.

I believe Xavi's Barça is a bit more direct than what he would consider 'ideal' because of the type of players he inherited/got. The likes of Ferran Torres, Raphinha are players that are more suited for transitional moments rather than a more controlled approach. On top of that, they are good players but probably not ELITE. And at that level, it makes a huge difference.

I think Xavi is blending the philosophy he was coached with as a player with the efficiency/directness he saw with the Madrid teams he faced back in the days (Long balls And quick space exploitation )

This video is so good. It answers most of my questions about this Barca team this season. I guess you had the same questions beforehand to compile your research and create such an awesome video.

As always great content, keep coming with quality contents

This is such a good analysis, really enjoyed watching it. I followed and hope your channel blows up soon. Keep up the good work!

That xga vs ga stat is craazy. All season i’ve been wondering what the actual xga is

Just came across this channel today and it is pretty good. Great analysis.

I really do enjoy watching these deep analysis videos from the purist. Keep it up, please 🙏🏾

you are one of the best football pages i've seen on youtube... keep going

This channel has the best tactical break downs with out even trying

I had to come back to comment on this video while watching today's game against Espanyol. So far it's been an example of what is possible when the system works.

man i just love your videos 🔥🔥 the only thing is that make more videos on a daily basis, would love that and one more thing make a comparison video between amrabat and zubimendi (i prefer amrabat tho)

amazing analysis man keep it up, especially on barca games , im sharing your channel on facebook and Twitter 👍 ❤

Bro your voice is soo soothing, i couldn't finish the video in 2 attempts.

Crazy good and mature analysis. You have a new subscriber, easily.

Amazing videos. Lots of fans don’t see/understand tactics(or do so slowly) but your videos help with that.

Great video mate. Really excited for this unit and looking forward to this summer transfer window as it may be crucial relative to Xavi's core ideas and our ability to bring those to life. Besides being as vertical as we have (I was pleasantly surprised with how direct Xavi has been); I hope we relax on pressing as high as often as that almost always results in the Low Block from most modest and lesser teams. My main idea as a solution to that, play in a mid-block and not force teams into that deep, compact ultra defensive shape in the first place. Secondly would be improvement in personnel which should lead to greater synergy, automations and instances of improvisation within Xavi's framework.

Amazing video as always! Your football mind is unbelievable ♥️

The questions you ask are rlly instructive for aspiring analysts watching this 👍😊

Great video bro! Simply GREAT!

Wow, at this point no one matches your analysis💯 keep it up.

Your insight is top quality sir. Thanks

Well said, Sir! I really wish you could upload more on a weekly basis but then I am still worried about this coming season. We are talking about Busquets leaving and Gundogan coming in, probably Messi as well. A lot of these principles will change. But regardless of all these changes, how close can this team with this sporting project challenges in the semi-final of the UCL?

Another great watch 🎉

I've been waiting for you bro

Thank you for being very professional in your attitude. In all of your videos. Truly a very good football RU-vid channel 👏

Work an incredible analysis. Great

Amazing analysis Buddy.

Great analysis !

Thanks for all the things you do

Dude your explanation is perfection......your breakdown even helps in playing flfa

Been waiting so longgggg!

Imagine Messi in this system... He is super smart can do better then anyone to drag defenders and use space.

extremely interesting, thank you!

Your football IQ is beyond amazing. Continue with the same energy and spirit

Wondering how Xavi tactics compared to Klopp's Liverpool. I am seeing so many similarities. High possession, but more direct.

Never change the way you present the content. It is the best.❤

Wow!! Beautiful analysis. I actually enjoy this organic Barca which gives freedom to players and try to play vertical, rather than the more robotic Man City of Pep(not criticising tho). But I think if we get the right profiles we'll win big things. The criticism I have of Xavi is, their passes in the final 3rd are unnecessarily 'big' passes /long passes. The final delivery needs to be slick and short so that it becomes undefendable. City and Arsenal play short in the final 3rd and get shots from nearer the opp goal, hence score more. We try to hit long. Also, due to this , Barca has a problem retaining possession. Every 5 minutes you see them pressing and tracking back, coz they simply don't hold on to the ball enough. We need to adjust to situations, when to hit long and when to play a million passes.

Great video. I think that this summer will be a big summer for Xavi. Losing players like Pedri, De Jong and Dembele hurt us, especially in Europe and domestic titles. Depth is needed, and I think if Xavi can secure his players, we'll compete in Europe like Barca is known for.

Pedri is absolutely essential for providing some control in this aggressive system right now. Which is why I think they need a controller Busquets replacement too rather than say an Amrabat.

Beautiful Analysis 🤌🏾✨

Really solid analysis. Really good video.

Good thing you shared this on twitter

Well put video🙏🏻❤️

Please make a video on Liverpools new tactics under klopp.What it could lead to and its weaknesses. Great video by the way.

It’s so Xavi to exploit space, remember how he used to play as a player, always deep passes and always creating space! Great vid!

nice video, really enjoyed it👌👌👌

Love your channel bro.

The Purist foootball uploads a video: Me: I prayed for days like these.

You said Athletic and not Bilbao, you deserve my like, sir

Barca have been really great defensively this season,so i think the problem is with the attack,especially the LW with the inconsistencies of Ansu & ferran torres they need to add an attacker to that flank

happy to see another Barca video 😍

You’re a Legend❤

U should do a video of a prediction signings and how u expect the team to play and where will they finish in the ucl. E.g. if they sign Gundogan, Amarat, Roque… how will the team improve.

Can you cover other clubs that are doing excellent right now than Barcelona? I'm interested to see your take on them because i think that would help a lot of people understand their team more

Gundogan Messi and Martinez will make us solid in all positions especially amrabaat

Mate this Page deserves Billion views 🎉🎉🎉🎉

forca barca❤💙 love the content bro u deserve more subs :D

Amazing vid!

Best football channel on RU-vid

Spot on !

people really don`t realize how once the kick-off whistle goes off, it`s like 70-80% on the players to win the game and preform, even if you are the best coach in the world there is very little you can do to affect the result and Barca just needs more quality/mature players, we are literally on zero budget working through market chances so I don`t expect us to compete in Europe next year as well

would love to see you compare early ajax, cruyff teams, barca pep, germany pep, england pep, luis enrique, arteta, xavi, van gaal etc

Tremendous video!

Turned them from a CL Team into an UEL Team. Fire bro

I think all this is to say is that this team is relatively young in their identity of tearing apart space. I think that, funny enough, the fact that Lewandowski underperformed while also being the league’s top goal scorer speaks to his brilliance as a striker in a new league on a young and inexperienced team, but also to just HOW inexperienced this team is as a unit. Going through so much bull in the last few years has only afforded Barca to function on individual greatness sometimes making something happen. But now, with an experienced forward, they were able to practice putting together better chances, and beginning to mould their identity of murdering space. As it stands, the future is bright as long as Lewandowski, De Jong, and (arguably most importantly) Pedri stay healthy. Lewandowski for his near guaranteed consistency, De Jong for his brilliance in playmaking and creative thinking, and Pedri for decision making up top. Others like Dembele, Kounde, Balde, and Gavi are also critical, but I think those three will be key in up keeping Barca as they try to fit a replacement for Sergio, while strengthening the future of Barca.

Stuff like this takes time. Football doesn’t happen in an instant, even though in these times we get and expect everything in an instant… stuff like this takes time.

Good analysis bud

Great Analysis. I have a question though. As mentioned in the vid, the execution and 'when?' factor solely depends on the players, but what more does the team need to be able to compete in Europe. "Weaker" teams such as Benfica,Leverkussen and even Roma has played well and appealing football in Europe. How can Barça compete at that same level or maybe a higher level?

great video

The match of the season was Utd vs Barca. Both played in Europa but the spectacle was none the less of a CL match.

Next season will be different considering Xavi now has a definite system in 3223, at the start of this season Barça didn't have a specific style and were often relying on individual quality in a traditional 433 with players often playing in roles they were not familiar with.

Very well. Who would you sign for Barca in right back the way it is now, and who in front aside from Vitor Rorque and Ez abde come back, assuming we get rid of all Fati, Farran, Raphinha, am contemplating Son Heing-min.

Good stuff 👏

14:23 I see what you did there 👀👀

It's sort of a return to how Cruyff's Barca played against teams that didn't allow them to play through the middle. Pep and Koeman would switch play and try to find Stoichkov or Beguiristain, who would cut inside to shoot or layoff for Romario. The squad doesnt have an experienced player in the midfield that gives them the composure and dynamism required to dictate a game in and out of possession. Pedri and Gavin are still too young and cannot be relied upon to play 50+ games a season at their best level. With Busquets leaving I kind of get why Xavi wanted Zubimendi, but they'll need a lot more than a DM. With all the financial restrictions this won't be a rebuild Xavi can finish in one summer. My worry is more with the hierarchy than Xavi. They're swayed too much by sentiment.

your voice so soothing mate

I seriously need you to do a break down of Di Zerbi Brighton team please 🤲🏾🕯

Great and very weighted analysis Visca Braça

Whit the young core that we have the team will just improve their level, those good decisions come whit experience.

With Busquets and Alba (most probably) leaving next season, Eric, Ferran, Alonso, Kessie, Roberto leaving as well. Sales of Umtiti, Lenglet, Dest too. Barca should work on squad depth. Quite a few world class free agents for them. Gundo, Thuram, Ndicka Martinez, Grimaldo, Messi (hopefully) and players to invest in Arnau, Amrabat, Fabricio Diaz. Nico and Abde's return. Xavi is making Barca Europe ready. He just needs squad depth.

tiki taka is basically all about the pass & movements, barca philosophy is definitely still there

With Busquets retiring, I hope we'll see a double pivot with de Jong and a more physical/defensive player, so Frenkie can focus on moving forward and carrying the ball between the lines, so he can open spaces for passes/through balls. I think he didn't reached his full potential yet and that would give him more freedom and responsibility.