Xavi is trying to change Barcelona from the ground up. He’s giving instructions to the ball handlers as well

Xavi is trying to get the Catalan club back among the world’s elite after his return to Barcelona. And he is taking his mission seriously, according to Spanish media he is giving instructions to the ball feeders as well.

Xavi started his coaching mission in Barcelona quite successfully. First came the league win over Espanyol, then Barcelona drew with Benfica in the Champions League.

Xavi is changing his style at Barcelona. He has started to rely more on young players and he values a lot the hard work of his charges. The media has not missed the new rules that the new coach has set for the whole team. Among them are the obligation to arrive an hour and a half before the start of the training unit or the common lunches in the training centre.

Even the style of play has changed. Xavi demands a lot of hard work and physical fitness from his charges, as his philosophy is a high-pressing game.

That is why, according to the Spanish media, Xavi does not want to leave anything to chance and tasks even the passers of the ball. They have to throw the new ball back on the pitch as soon as the existing one leaves the pitch. And in any condition.

Why does Xavi demand this? The Spanish coach claims that this tactic can help his team’s pressing. If the breaks in play are as short as possible, the opposing team won’t have time to breathe and his team can walk into an open defence, possibly tiring the opponent even more.

It’s certainly a very interesting finding. Only time will tell if Xavi will be successful with his pressing game in Barcelona.

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