Barcelona’s night of rejuvenation and regret as Xavi finds different answers on the wing

At the final whistle, the cameramen on the pitch ran to Ferran Torres for a close-up. The player of the match held his head high as he looked up at the stands, clapping triumphantly.

A few meters from him was Ansu Fati. The striker had been slow to come off the bench, waiting for his teammates to rise first before heading towards them and taking his place on the Camp Nou turf. Barcelona beat Cadiz 2-0, thanks to goals from Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski.

Fati, who started the game but was taken off late, moved slowly now, not looking up from the pitch and appearing to shift his feet slightly with his head down. Xavi noticed this, changed course and gave him an affectionate pat on the back. Some teammates also went up to him and gave him a hug.

“The forwards appreciate each other for the goals, but we appreciate Ansu for the way he showed himself. He worked well and he finished with cramps and that means he gave his all,” Xavi said during from the post-match press conference. “The goals will come.”

When Xavi replaced Fati in the 86th minute, the player threw his jacket to the floor and had to be calmed down by Sergio Busquets, just like Jordi Alba did with Raphinha here days earlier.

Fati’s desperation at missing the chance to show his best form clashed with the gratifying feeling of finding his way back to victory that was evident on Torres’ face. Before the match, the feeling was clear: it was time for both players to show what they are capable of.

It was a situation created by the injuries suffered by Pedri and Ousmane Dembele. Pedri’s absence in particular is a big structural setback for Xavi’s plans.

Pedri is one of the cornerstones of the system through which Xavi unlocked the team’s success, playing him as one of four midfielders in a fluid 4-4-2, rather than the 4-3- 3 most traditionally associated with Barca’s style.

With the 20-year-old set to be out until mid-March, Xavi decided on Sunday night that it was time to return to a two-winger formation. Raphinha has been benched with his form and fitness preserved for Thursday’s Europa League second leg away to Manchester United. All eyes were therefore on Torres and Fati.

Unfortunately, Fati’s lack of confidence was evident – and his frustration only seemed to grow during an erratic performance, the tone perhaps set by a 13th-minute goal attempt in which he failed. to connect with the ball. Xavi often gave encouragement from the touchline but Fati’s demeanor and disposition didn’t change much; he looked discouraged and was playing without a hint of a smile on his face.

It was in stark contrast to Torres. Dribbling, fighting for the ball: he dared absolutely everything. On a weekend marked by carnival celebrations in Spain, he came to the party looking his best. The same performance pressure that has weighed on him at times this season now seems to give him energy and motivation.

Torres attempted 10 dribbles and completed them all, becoming the first player to achieve such a tally in La Liga this season and the fourth Barca player to do so since 2016-17, after Neymar, Lionel Messi and Dembele. On Sunday, he was the Barcelona player with the most crosses, with 11. Second was Alejandro Balde with four.

His most telling contribution led to Barca’s first goal. He dribbled past a player inside, then another outside, beating a third opponent before crossing. Lewandowski’s header was blocked but Roberto was there to follow.

Most Barca players went to join the midfield. Gavi started running towards Roberto, thought, turned around and went to hug Torres, who was celebrating the goal as if it was his too. Eric Garcia – also a starter against Cadiz – also ran towards him and was joined by Frenkie de Jong. Everyone was aware of his importance for the Catalan winger.

In less than two minutes, the second goal came. Lewandowski scored again at the Camp Nou after six consecutive games without doing so. The Pole was back, and Torres was back. It couldn’t have come at a better time, days before one of Manchester United’s most important games of the season, following the whirlwind first leg at Camp Nou last Thursday night.

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Cadiz – ranked 17th in La Liga and the competition’s third-worst goalscorer – may seem like an easy opponent, but since their promotion to the top flight in 2020 Barcelona have only been able to beat them once in five meetings before Sunday. Indeed, the Andalusians’ 1-0 victory here last season saw Barca say goodbye to any real hope of catching Real Madrid in the title race.

It was vital that the Catalans maintained their eight-point lead over Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Their priority is La Liga, as they have said many times. They achieved it and Torres was key.

“I’m particularly happy for Ferran, he got a lot of criticism but he’s a player who still works for the team. People appreciate him for his goals or assists, we appreciate other things,” he said. said Xavi. “He is humble and always shows his face.”

Torres said: “It’s difficult from the start to show everything you have, in a few minutes there is pressure. It’s a source of pride that the Camp Nou have applauded me, now it’s time to keep working because the hardest thing is to keep going.

In Fati’s case, his worst enemy is his version of 2020, when he stunned everyone with a brilliance that now, four knee surgeries later, seems to be missing.

Torres, meanwhile, has been a slave to his price. Barca agreed to pay an initial fee of €55m (£48.8m; $58.8m) which has since risen to €62m. There’s been a lot of pressure on him to perform from day one.

Lewandowski’s low strike for Barca’s second was his 15th La Liga goal this season (Photo: Pau Barrena/AFP via Getty Images)

He came with the backing of Mateu Alemany, the club’s sporting director, who said in negotiations with Manchester City that Torres was “his boy” when the deal was struck in last season’s winter transfer window. .

Then came Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who overshadowed Torres’ signing with his immediate impact. The Catalan was criticized for his game and went down with a foot injury in July which caused him to miss pre-season.

Since returning from the World Cup, it’s been clear that Torres hasn’t been at his best and, according to sources close to him who prefer to remain anonymous to protect their positions, he hit a low point after the semi-final. of the Spanish Supercopa. against Real Betis. He seems like a player whose performance is affected by pressure and, if he doesn’t feel confident, that feeling is reflected on the pitch.

That’s why his good game against Cadiz is so important to regain confidence and his best form. He made it clear that he was asking for a place in the starting line-up for the game in Manchester, his former hometown.

The smile at the end of the match revealed it. He knows it inside: he is back.

(Top photo: Pau Barrena/AFP via Getty Images)

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