Premier League: Declan Rice, Guardiola’s most expensive setback
Xavi’s Barça had their destiny in their hands against Espanyol of Barcelona and let slip two precious points that they may regret later. It is therefore aware of the situation of his team that the Spanish technician went to the window to put his strikers face to face with their responsibilities, especially as the second part of the season looks very tight.
Barcelona made a huge investment last summer with the renewal of Dembélé, the signing of Raphinha, the renewal of Ansu or the signing of Ferran Torres. A lot of money spent for such poor results at the moment. Since the beginning of the season, Robert Lewandowski has played 20 games, scored 18 goals and provided two assists, significant figures that confirm the investment made and the expectations generated by a signature of this caliber. And if he holds up, it is not the case of the others.
Indeed, the Catalan club has also worked hard to convince Dembélé to renew his contract, at the request of Xavi Hernández. If the Frenchman has improved a lot with Xavi on the bench to the point of being the fifth best decisive passer of the year 2022, his numbers in the current season can be improved. He has five goals and four assists in 21 games. Depay’s case is different, because he arrived free and the club wanted to sell him, which he did not want, and prefers to leave the club at the end of the season and free, to get the signing bonus. He played 3 games and scored a goal.
There is also the case of Ansu Fati, which is significant, because he participated in 21 games, mostly as a substitute, since he did not have the confidence of Xavi. The coach himself said that from now on he must assume a more important and decisive role. So far, in these 21 games, he has scored three goals and issued one assist. On the other hand Raphinha symbolizes the worst performance of all, because he has been a regular in Xavi’s teams, he has had many minutes and in the 19 games in which he has participated, he has scored only two goals and given two assists. A bad record for an expenditure of about 60M€.
But he is not the only one in his case, because there is Ferran Torres, who is not in great shape either. The Spaniard has participated in 22 games and has scored five goals and provided five assists, although he is the second most effective striker, his case questions like that of the Brazilian. So, to motivate them a little, Xavi now demands more efficiency from his strikers, since the record is such that Lewandowski has scored more goals than any other striker. He has 18, while the other five strikers have a combined total of 16 goals.
