Barça closed the winter market with four signings (Daniel Alves, Ferran Torres, Adama and Aubameyang) and Iñaki Peña, Coutinho and Demir were leaving, plus Agüero who had to retire. In principle, it gives the feeling that the tall ones weigh more, but also that the product is somewhat unbalanced. Xavi is going to have, at the expense of what happens with Dembélé, nine forwards at his disposal, seven from the first team: Adama, Aubameyang, Ansu, Abde, Memphis, Braithwaite, Luuk de Jong, Ferran Jutglà and Ferran Torres. Coming from Manchester City and Arsenal, two leading and powerful clubs in the Champions League, Ferran and Aubameyang are the great goalscoring hopes in the second part of the season at Barça, who have dropped one goal per game this season. He closed last year with 2.33 goals per game; this season he signs 1.3. The topic will be how to distribute the minutes. Barça have a maximum of 26 games left until the end of the season. Everything, to be distributed among nine forwards.
The photo, then, comes out somewhat unbalanced. In front of all the forwards with which it counts, the Barça is without wings. On the right, Daniel Alves is the only position-specific player Xavi believes in. The coach distrusts Sergiño Dest to the point that he proposed to the club to place him in the winter market. Sergi Roberto, who has played in that position, is injured. And Mingueza moves in an intermediate position between lateral and central. Due to this shortage of troops, Araújo and Eric Garcia have had to play in that position during the season. And they have suffered. The picture on the left is even worse. There is only one specific player in that position, Jordi Alba. And although he hasn’t counted for Xavi, Balde has been injured since yesterday and will be unemployed for six weeks.
The midfield does seem well structured with Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi and Nico being five reliable players, and all five are healthy. It remains to be resolved who is Busquets’ relief when he needs oxygen. Nico and Frenkie de Jong can play there; and even Xavi could consider a double pivot and overtake Pedri to playmaker. Riqui Puig, without minutes since the Cup match in Linares, has preferred not to move and it will be difficult for him to have more opportunities between now and the end of the season.
But the real overbooking is the front in which, curiously, and despite having nine forwards plus Dembélé, there is not a single left-hander. That is in the subsidiary (Ilias). The final photo of this Barça 2021-22 comes out, then, somewhat unbalanced.
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An unbalanced photo