Xavi Hernandez is convinced that Barcelona can find success against teams which play a low-block. The key in his mind, is intensity.
The Catalans welcome Osasuna to Camp Nou on Sunday night and are likely to face a similar challenge to that which they encountered Galatasaray on Thursday night. Asked for a post-mortem on the 0-0 draw, Xavi was precise in his analysis.
“We needed to attack better, divide the central defenders, have a better understanding of the ‘interior’ positions. The ‘nine’ needed to stay high more often to receive the ball because they did not have a pass open with the midfielders. We lacked more circulation, we weren’t precise in the first half and we were better in the second but it wasn’t enough to win.”
Xavi’s responses, covered by Mundo Deportivo, were again sincere when he was asked about attacking teams in a lower block in general.
“We were very good against Elche too and that was a low block. We have different solutions but you have to interpret them well in the context of the game. We have trained for it this week, we have looked at videos and we are trying to find solutions. There was an opponent that was very good, an extraordinary goalkeeper. I don’t think it’s a problem.”
After a third question about the matches in which Barcelona have been unable to win, including Galatasaray, Xavi focused more on general principles.
“It’s a footballing and motivational matter, both things, Galatasaray were at a defensive level that we hadn’t faced. The difficult part is opening the jar. The intensity must be maintained, we cannot allow them to beat us for intensity, those values must be consistent. It’s a base that we have had, we have and it can’t be dropped.”
Barcelona face a crucial run of games after the Osasuna match. Two away visits against Galatasaray and Real Madrid await before welcoming Sevilla to Camp Nou.
