Blind faith in two null extremes for Barça

Blind faith is just that: blind.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
16 October 2022 Sunday 23:35
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Blind faith in two null extremes for Barça

Blind faith is just that: blind. that you don't see That you don't need to see. That doesn't listen to reason. You do not want to be aware of what is happening in front of your eyes. Even if events take you the opposite. The reality of the classic is stubborn, almost more than Xavi's commitment to his two starting wingers. Neither Dembélé (11 games in the eleven) nor Raphinha (9 times in the lineup) threatened Madrid, nor did they create danger from set pieces nor could they barely unbalance their markers, Carvajal and Mendy, respectively.

The highlight they left was the center of the Brazilian that Lewandowski finished high in the small area (the best visiting chance of the first half) and a free kick on the edge of the area that the French forced in front of Tchouaméni, which the Pole crashed into the barrier . Between the two they lost the ball 22 times, in that the wings were symmetrical at the Bernabeu.

The games go by and the stubbornness of the Barcelona coach is less and less understood for giving all the stripes to Dembélé no matter how much world champion he is (he was a substitute in Russia 2018). It is not good to give yourself over to a player who is so unstable and prone to ups and downs. Especially in a team that pretends to have control of the games and hates the comings and goings because, in addition, they feel terrible. Dembélé, perhaps just because of his ease in dribbling, chooses the wrong play. He attacks without meaning, by improvisation or by inspiration but he is not academic.

Nothing better explains Xavi Hernández's relationship with Ousmane Dembélé than that unbreakable trust. The Egarense coach put his hand in the fire for the French winger from the first day. From his presentation in which he gave her his ears in a phrase that still accompanies him. Since then, and 50 games have passed, Dembélé, whose renewal was almost a state issue at the Camp Nou, has scored five goals.

Irregularity defines all extremes by nature, because they take risks, and you have to love them that way. They go with the complete pack. Raphinha did have a lot of weight at Leeds in the Premier. He arrived sponsored by Deco for 58 million (plus 9 in variables) even knowing that the Frenchman was staying and is suffering Xavi's predilection for his partner / competitor. The Brazilian, who has only played one full game, was once again the first attacker to be substituted, in the 59th minute.

Both came from being associated in the first goal against Inter. But at the Bernabeu they hardly showed up. They didn't even scratch the white defense. Nothing to do with the performance of Aubameyang in the previous visit to Chamartín. The Gabonese, now at Chelsea, scored two goals and assisted Ferran in the third of the 0-4.

From blind faith in Dembélé we must give way to Ansu Fati's self-love. In 17 minutes, the youth squad came out with a rebellious spirit that was not seen in the headlines. He twice he shot near the left post of Lunin, touching the goal. And his was the great play of the 2-1, beating Camavinga by speed and sitting down Valverde. The center was finished off by Ferran Torres, who repeated the goal as in March.

Dogmas are dangerous, also in football. Performance commands and is not blind.