“The Not-So-Exciting Return of Barcelona: Xavi’s Philosophy Falls Short”

When Xavi accepted Barcelona’s job in November 2021, he talked about his deep relationship with the club and confirmed that he was “Colles” and expressed his understanding of what the fans wanted on the field. He referred to the way Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola played, and most importantly, he stressed his embodiment of Barcelona’s identity.

And his words appeared as evidence of Barcelona’s return to its former glories and the presentation of an aesthetic football, and not relying on winning only, which delighted the club’s fans, after a period of football alien to Barcelona’s traditions under the leadership of Ronald Koeman, while they were hoping for the return of comprehensive football or Tiki-taka style Once again, the audience met another, less aesthetic side.

With the exception of what we saw yesterday in the 4/2 victory over Espanyol on the night of the coronation in the Spanish League, the Blaugrana presented most of the season with monotonous and methodical football, as their results suggest.

Barcelona emerged with a footballing philosophy more akin to Jose Mourinho’s side than Guardiola’s, and although Xavi offered the first principle, his inability to do it all the Barca way suggested that the future might not be so exciting for the fans Xavi sought to impress.