Out with the old and in with the new. Xavi Hernández was clear that after a season without titles he could not miss the, why not, magnificent opportunity to paint a new Barça on a practically blank canvas. Younger, more colorful, energetic and reinforced with five new pieces. He began his particular work leaving Piqué on the bench against Rayo. He repeated substitution in Anoeta. But he was not alone. He was accompanied by Jordi Alba, another of the hitherto untouchables.
At the Camp Nou against Valladolid Xavi got Sergio Busquets back, he was suspended in San Sebastian and the only captain in whom he continues to blindly place his trust. Badia's remains his rudder, his extension in the field. The brain of this new Barça. And his replacement in the second half was Kessié, one of the first signings to arrive this season. Except for Christensen, who is down at the last minute due to a feverish process, all the new players played. Lewandowski, Raphinha and of course Koundé. Meanwhile, on the bench the same picture was repeated with Piqué sitting next to Alba on the left side of the bench. They didn't even heat up. “They are in this situation but they can change it. The season is very long”, warned Xavi in a message addressed above all to the players.
But for the moment Xavi prefers the new blood that Alejandro Balde's 18 years on the left-back bring, accompanying Dembélé in his careers. “Balde plays because he had a great preseason. This is about meritocracy, it's his moment”, stressed Xavi. To the already known seriousness of Araújo, that he returned to his natural position as central, much more comfortable than in that of the still improvised right back. As far as getting the ball out, Araújo's unfinished business, Xavi already has Eric Garcia. Another young man who loves. “He could be captain at 21 years old”, slipped Xavi.
And the right side? There are still three days left before the market closes and Laporta's Barça, characterized by pulling a rabbit out of their hat every time something seems impossible, continues to track the market. His last trick in the form of a millionaire guarantee served to enroll Koundé. Xavi placed the Frenchman in his official debut precisely in that position that is so difficult to manage and in which he had only played six games with Sevilla.
Koundé made good use of his first official start. He accompanied Raphinha and brought out a side profile more offensive than defensive without losing balls and looking for and choosing the free man well although, it must be said, against a not too demanding opponent. “I have added good sensations, I felt very good. But I have to keep working to be at my best level”, said the Frenchman, who has just overcome a pubic injury. Koundé learned on Thursday not only that he was going to be entered but that he was going to make his debut as a starter.
After the break Xavi called up Sergi Roberto, another captain to the rescue for the right side. And Koundé was able to move to the center of the defense by forming a tandem with Eric Garcia and masterfully avoiding goals. “I have come to progress and win titles”, he remarked before praising the new Camp Nou star, Robert Lewandowski. "He's a top striker," he said. “And a natural leader”, added Xavi. The fans also know it. The name of the Pole was the most chanted by the 83,972 spectators. Because the Camp Nou is also back.
