FC Barcelona Boss Xavi Praises Gundogan, Laments Lack Of Effectiveness

FC Barcelona manager Xavi praised Ilkay Gundogan and Lamine Yamal yet lamented his side’s lack of effectiveness following a 2-0 home win over Cadiz on Sunday night.

Barca appeared to be on their way to breaking an unwanted 50-year record, of finishing their opening two matches of a league season goalless for the time since 1973.

With eight minutes to spare, however, Pedri and Gundogan had other ideas.

Combining on the edge of the box, the German set the Spaniard up with a wonderful through ball to break the deadlock.

“That is why we have signed him, to mark these differences,” Xavi said in his post-match press conference, when praising the 32-year-old sealed for free when his Manchester City contract expired in late June.

Xavi also complimented Lamine Yamal, who made history by becoming Barca’s youngest starting debutant in La Liga while almost coming close to scoring in a strong 85-minute display.

“We see him train, he does a good job and he can make a difference,” Xavi insisted.

Despite Ferran Torres netting deep into stoppage time, the legendary midfielder still felt his side could have been more clinical in front of goal.

Noting that his men “dominated” the proceedings, he noted that they also “lacked effectiveness” and knowing a “better way to choose to attack.”

Torres couldn’t be faulted for his finishing, however, and Xavi pointed to the late substitute as having the right attitude when it comes to being prepared to play as little or as much as the manager requires.

“All players are important, they have to be prepared for when they are required. Ferran is an example, to come on with 10 or 20 [minutes] remaining, [after] 60 minutes, or from the start.”

MVP Frenkie de Jong will also put a shift in wherever Xavi wants him to, and played as a central defender on this occasion with Ronald Araujo out injured.

“We believed that Cadiz would play with a 4-4-2 and the center back would help us divide them,” Xavi explained.

“Frenkie is one of the best in the squad in this sense. He was looking for superiority, he has achieved it, but we lacked the last pass.”

With their first full three points in the bag, Barca now head to Villarreal where Xavi will serve the last match of his two-game ban.