Xavi accepts that he and his Barcelona coaching staff need to assume more responsibility

Barcelona’s 0-1 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk was a tough pill to swallow for everyone at the club.

For once, this was their second defeat in three games and even their 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad was far from convincing.

In two games, while Barcelona have endured different results, the football that is being played on the field is far from what the Blaugrana are known for and however tough it is to understand, it remains an outright fact.

Xavi sees a mental block

“We played one of the worst games since I arrived two years ago,” said the manager after the game.

“We are not there mentally. We are doing things wrong in general, we have problems offensively and defensively. We have to get the players back so they feel comfortable on the pitch. An important step must be taken,” he added.

Adding to it, SPORT’s Ferran Correas reports that Xavi believes there is a significant mental block within the team.

For this reason, the coaching staff views the upcoming national team break as an opportunity for a positive reset. 

The objective is crystal clear: secure a victory against Alaves this weekend and use the international break to allow the players to return with a rejuvenated mentality to confront the challenges that await them for the remainder of the year.

Xavi and his staff are under pressure

The international break will be a valuable opportunity for the coaching staff to address the team’s recent decline in performance. 

During this hiatus, the manager will work closely with his assistants in search of a fresh strategy that can revitalize the team’s on-field dynamics. 

They recognize the absolute need for the team to enhance its attacking prowess because when in attack, it is important for Barcelona to spread the field effectively and maintain a greater presence between the lines.

Furthermore, they are contemplating whether Barcelona should persist with the current strategy of relying on only two centre-backs, or if a shift to a three-player defensive setup would be a better way to go.

Last season, when they had Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, and Andreas Christensen as central defenders, the team boasted the best defensive record in the league. 

However, this season, with the inclusion of two marauding full-backs like Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde, the opponents have been able to exploit more gaps in their defensive line.