Xavi and his Underrated Rebuild Job At Barça.

• Xavi should be praised more for his consistent Barcelona side, as the Catalans look solid to recapture La Liga title.

Xavi has Barcelona fans believing again, despite a disappointing start to the season, the Catalans look like the Champions of Spain already.

Barcelona defeated Villarreal 1-0 away from home on Sunday night to go 11 points clear of Real Madrid, playing one more game than Los Blancos.

Barcelona recent financial problems have been well televised with so many fans fearing if the Catalans would continue to be relevant in European football, but some smart recruitments in the summer meant Barça started the season hoping to recapture La Liga and also make a statement in the UEFA Champions League. However, it has not gone the way most fans would have wanted.

Keeping The Ship Steady Despite Early Storms

Barça were chagrined earlier this season for their form and, more importantly, their UCL group stage exit for the second season in a row. As huge as that disappointment was, Barcelona have been able to move on and mount a truly worth title challenge in La Liga. They’ve managed to topple Real Madrid, also edging them in the Spanish Super Cup, and now with their latest victory over Villarreal, Barça are now 11 points clear of Real Madrid.

Not all of Barça’s performances has been good this season, they still need to improve especially against bigger teams, however they keep getting results, and that is so important for a team trying to rebuild its core around promising young players.

It might not sound like much to many Barça fans, but with the form, efficiency and consistency that Barça have shown in La Liga this season, Xavi deserves more flowers.

Being a young coach who hasn’t had any experience in Europe, he has managed to keep his squad motivated week in week out to at least secure the La Liga title and maybe also challenge for the Europa League. A league form that has seen them concede just 7 goals, while averaging 2.01 goals scored every game, is incredibly impressive. Xavi has also revitalized Ousmane Dembélé and continues to provide the right space and winning environment for Pedri and Gavi to continue developing.

There are still some doubts on if Xavi will continue at Barcelona for many years, but even if he doesn’t, future Barcelona bosses will be grateful for what the former Spanish midfielder has been able to produce given his resources.