Xavi (foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona's latest triumph, a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad, is a testament to their newfound identity.
It wasn't a display that left their manager overjoyed, but it was a result that continued to add to their points tally, which is what ultimately counts in the race for the title. Since Xavi's appointment, Barcelona has secured 19 league victories with a 1-0 scoreline, a record that stands out in La Liga during the same period.
Xavi, the former midfield maestro, has now led Barcelona in 105 matches, with a record of 67 wins, 18 draws, and 20 losses across all competitions. Under his guidance, Barcelona has scored 202 goals while conceding 102, averaging 2.09 points per game. Currently sitting third in the league, Barcelona trails the leaders Girona by four points, with arch-rivals Real Madrid in between.
Despite the string of narrow wins, Xavi expressed a critical view of his team's performance against Real Sociedad, suggesting that self-criticism was necessary as the victory, by his own admission, was perhaps not well-deserved. "I was much angrier when we lost El Clasico. Tonight was the opposite; we were not good on the field, but we achieved an important victory," Xavi remarked after the match.
This approach, while not always dazzling, has proven to be a pragmatic and successful strategy for Barcelona. It reflects a broader trend in modern football where the margin between victory and defeat is often razor-thin, and where the ability to consistently come out on the right side of that margin can be the difference between a successful season and a disappointing one.