The ‘Other’ Xavi Effect At FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona pulled off one of their toughest victories in recent times by winning 2-1 away at Elche on Sunday in La Liga.

The Blaugrana squandered chances early in the first half, and then on the stroke of the interval conceded after Pedri laid a tackle-pass hybrid into the path of Fidel, who converted coolly past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The second installment of the road trip fixture saw Barca battle tooth and nail, and though Memphis’ winning penalty after Ferran Torres levelled the score was dubious, the Xavi effect could clearly be seen once more in all its glory.

As Mundo Deportivo say on Monday, the Catalans “train more and better” under him, and are “much more physical”. “Tactical work is done, their diet is controlled, group and individual videos are reviewed,” it was added.

“That is why Barça is already third and is seven points behind [second-place] Sevilla”, MD pointed out, with one less game played than them and a direct meeting between the two pencilled in for April 3 at the Camp Nou.

But the daily sports paper presents another facet of the Xavi effect alongside his tactical analysis, physical preparation and astute man management – the role of the substitutes.

“They have gone from feeling marginalized [under Ronal Koeman] to feeling all important,” the outlet claims. “[Sergino] Dest or [Oscar] Mingueza have spent weeks without playing, but when they have left [the bench] they have done so with the same confidence as the starters. Like Memphis, who was given up for ‘dead’ and Xavi considers important.”

“It is no coincidence that Barça’s last five goals have been scored by players who had started the game on the bench. That is also Xavi effect,” they conclude.

The strong team spirit in the group that the legendary ex-midfielder has fostered can also be seen in training footage posted to the club’s social media accounts.

The players are willing to fight for each other, and make way for their positional rivals in the starting line-up if the assignment calls for it without hard feelings. And at the same time, those previously cast out and marginalized are having top form extracted from them when asked to perfom a task for their boss.