Things seemed to be taking a different turn Barcelona at the beginning of 2022-2023, after several months in the shadows where only his greatest enemy has shone: Real Madrid. With bomb signatures through levers and the illusion of a return to greatness, everything seemed to be going their way.
A semi-clonic start to the league (a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano), did not bode well, but the team bounced back and started adding wins. At Champions League level he started in the midst of goals5-1 over Viktoria Plzen and the bells of joy rang out in the city.
However, the shock of reality came the next European day before the nightmare Bayern Munich. The 2-0 defeat in Germany began to show the team’s seams from Xavi Hernandez. Two back-to-back league wins preceded another heavy Group C defeat to Inter Milan in Italy (controversially) and that has complicated their aspirations of qualifying for the last 16.
This week the club faced two games of great importance that have already set the course for the rest of the season: draw (miraculously not a loss) 3-3 against Calcio at home and another setback to Madrid in the clasicoon Sunday with 3-1.
⏰ End of match
⚽ #The classic (3-1)
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/UXXEma4GbN— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) October 16, 2022
His present Xavinet it’s like this: second in the league behind Meringue with 22 points, but they are third in the Champions League and they do not depend on themselves to qualify for the next round. The specter of the Europa League looms on Halloween Eve and fans wonder, Should Hernandez continue as coach?
Xavi in numbers
The former midfielder arrived on November 6, 2021 to take over from another Blaugrana legend: Ronald Koeman. In Spain they finished second and their Champions League run ended in the quarter-finals of the Europa League where they were knocked out by Frankfurt, the eventual champions.
With the weekend game, he turned 50 as a quarterback. In total Xavi has 28 wins, 11 draws and the same number of losses. being the worst among the last eight technicians to pass the culé bench in the same number of matches.
His winning percentage was 63.3%, adding 95 out of 150 possible points. This leaves him behind the likes of Frank Rijkaard (64%), Ronald Koeman (70.7%), Tito Vilanova (77.3%), Ernesto Valverde (79.3%), Gerardo Martino (79.3%) , Pep Guardiola (79.3%) and Luis Enrique. (86%), who got 129.
Coaches with the best performance in their first 50 games with Barca:
1st Louis Henry: 86%
2nd Helenio Herrera: 83%
3rd Guardiola: 79%
3rd Martino: 79%
3rd Valverde: 79%
6th Forns: 76%
7th Dombi: 71%
8th Bellamy: 70%
8th Cruyff: 70%
8th Cuman: 70%
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25th XAVI: 63%— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) October 16, 2022
“The season is very long and you have a moment when you’re bad, when you’re down, when you’re in a little bit of a hole, well, that’s a good moment. You have to be strong, keep believing, keep working”, Hernandez said in a press conference after the loss to Madrid.
The only difference that the former number 6 has had so far, in relation to the rest of the coaches mentioned above, is that he did not take charge of the whole team at the beginning of the season, but already structured, with an eleven in which he could do a little to stretch hands and build to your liking.
the rough Xavinet
But this 22-23 is different. They have brought him high-profile signings such as Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, Marcos Alonso and Raphinha, among others. In addition, he managed to renew Ousmane Dembélé, a key part of his game.
But this very aspect has receded. With a young midfielder, Still very dependent on Sergio Busquets, who is not the one of the past and who does what age can or allows. It is still clear, but that definitive transition in which the witness takes over from Pedri or Gavi (and with a new contract) has not been seen.
The goalkeeper Ter Stegen he does what he can. Eric Garcia hasn’t shown much, Gerard Pique was left in debt against Inter. Above Lewandowski is gone and Dembele is different from lime and different from sand. The work must be hard and recover as soon as possible so that it does not continue to be lost in the course of the great harvest.
RMA 3-1 FCB (FT) – Since the departure of Ernesto Valverde, Real Madrid have won 6 of the 7 official El Clasicos played. Brutal
This is the balance of the 250 official classics:
Real Madrid: 101 wins and 418 goals
Barcelona: 97 wins and 409 goals
Draws: 22— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) October 16, 2022
Who could replace him?
If there is a bench movement, there is already a strong candidate. Thomas Tuchel he is the one they are already giving as his successor. The German, with an experienced CV, made a surprise exit from Chelsea FC this year, having won the Champions League two years ago.
Another one who will recently terminate his contract with his team is the Argentine Marcelo Gallardowhich after eight years, will leave River Plate from his home country. In total he added 15 titles with the Millionaire, including two Copa Libertadores.
