The room doesn’t look the same anymore. The painting that used to adorn the wall, is now parked, buried in a corner that no one pays attention to. And the dinners? They’re not the same anymore. Not at all. Now, there’s only the metallic sound of the fork, barely any conversation. And when two or even three sentences come together, there’s someone missing to connect them all. It’s a strange room that Barcelona. Arriving with the pride of being the league champion, they intend to reclaim its original essence. Ilkay Gündogan arrives to rearrange the painting, to gather the gazes at the same vanishing point. And to prevent the sentences from falling apart, connecting them infinitely. The room may never look the same. But with the German, it will look better.
First, it was the more vertical and volcanic Jürgen Klopp. He molded that playmaking midfielder with a tendency to play behind the ball. To collect and transfer it, a player who encompassed all the possibilities one can imagine at the age of 22. That first – and fantastic – Gündogan found his habitat in a team that aimed to reach Reus and Götze. Always in an advantageous position, and Gündo’s foot started to show that it was a sharp and neat knife. Both qualities went hand in hand, in a mocking gesture, challenging those who say that being neat requires securing the pass and that verticality doesn’t go hand in hand with sustained accuracy. Gündogan already combined both actions.
Years under Pep
Then came Pep Guardiola, much later. He found a player with a high tempo and vertical passes. Pep transformed him into a holistic player with as many facets as the game itself. He would be a central midfielder some days. A possession-based interior on others. But he would eventually develop his definitive version, the most lethal one. A goal scorer who would claim the top scorer trophy in the Premier League-winning team in 2021. Xavi picks up a player who carries within his football the legacy of two of the best coaches of this century.
The table of the best
The German midfielder is not usually listed among the best midfielders of this decade. Partly because, outside the Barça/Real Madrid spotlight, the more cerebral midfielders have always been less celebrated. And it’s logical. Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Kroos, and Modric have been here, and the benchmark is unparalleled. However, Gündogan is one of the best players of his generation in terms of level, brilliance, and consistency. The German is one of the most accurate midfielders on the continent in terms of passing and control, excelling in the two fundamental aspects for any player in those areas. He masters both legs and positions himself correctly, knowing how to coexist near a central midfielder or between the lines, where spaces suffocate. It’s difficult to categorize him because he arrives at FC Barcelona with a thousand different faces.
As Gündogan is many things, it is logical to think that Xavi will be able to choose which of them to focus on for his Barça. But first, it must be clarified, and it may seem obvious but worth mentioning, that analyzing starting from the premise that the level shown by the player at Manchester will be replicated without any variation at Barça is an impossibility. Guardiola is the best because his great power lies in improving players, in rediscovering new dimensions and renaming their profiles. Barça and Xavi will reap these benefits, but that doesn’t mean they will taste the same.
What we can expect from ‘Gündo’
To analyze Gündogan in Barcelona, it is necessary to consider that Xavi’s style of play and tactical approach will have an impact on how the German midfielder is utilized. Xavi, as a former Barcelona player and a disciple of the tiki-taka philosophy, emphasizes possession, positional play, and intricate passing patterns. His teams thrive on control and dominance of the ball, constantly looking to create openings and exploit spaces with quick combinations.
In this context, Gündogan’s technical abilities and versatility make him an intriguing prospect for Xavi. He possesses excellent ball control, a wide passing range, and a keen sense of timing and positioning. His ability to link up with teammates, find pockets of space, and distribute the ball accurately fits well with Xavi’s ideals of playmaking and building from the back.
Gündogan’s role in Barcelona could be multi-faceted. He could be deployed as a deep-lying playmaker alongside a defensive midfielder, where his vision and passing range can be utilized to dictate the tempo of the game and launch attacks from deep positions. Alternatively, he could be used as an interior midfielder, operating between the lines, making late runs into the box, and contributing with goals and assists.
What we lacked last season
One of Gündogan’s notable strengths is his ability to contribute in the attacking third. While his goal-scoring exploits at Manchester City have been impressive, Barcelona may require him to focus more on creating scoring opportunities for others rather than being the primary goal threat himself. His intelligence in the final third, combined with the movement and technical ability of Barcelona’s forwards, could lead to some deadly combinations and increased goal-scoring opportunities for the team as a whole.
Defensively, Gündogan is a diligent worker who can contribute to Barcelona’s high-pressing game. He has the tactical understanding to position himself well and provide cover for his teammates when needed. Xavi’s emphasis on collective pressing and winning the ball back quickly will likely suit Gündogan’s work rate and ability to read the game.
However, there may be some challenges and adjustments for Gündogan as he transitions to Barcelona. The intensity and physicality of the Premier League are different from La Liga, and it may take some time for him to adapt to the specific demands of Spanish football. Additionally, the expectations and pressure of playing for a club like Barcelona can be immense, and Gündogan will need to cope with the scrutiny and heightened level of competition.
Overall, the prospect of Ilkay Gündogan playing under Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona is an exciting one. His technical qualities, versatility, and experience make him a valuable addition to any team, and under Xavi’s guidance, he could further refine his game and thrive in Barcelona’s possession-based style of play. With the right balance of tactical adjustments and support from his teammates, Gündogan has the potential to make a significant impact and contribute to Barcelona’s success on multiple fronts.
Source: Albert Blaya Sensat
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