Justified? The reason for Gavi's claim against Lewandowski in the Barça-Atlético

If there's a player in FC Barcelona who embodies character and gallantry despite his young age, it's Pablo Gavi. Hailing from Los Palacios y Villafranca, he's the kind of player who brings a special intensity to his game, chasing every ball as if it were the last and fearlessly engaging in every challenge that comes his way, even if that means risking his physical well-being, a consideration that, in the heat of the moment, seems to take a back seat for him.

Currently, the '6' of the Blaugrana stands out not only for his commendable, passionate, and intense physical display, but also for his leadership qualities and his ability to act as a captain without an armband on several occasions. Moreover, his capacity to reprimand some of his teammates to motivate them to engage in the game and contribute that extra effort needed to step up and effectively achieve a positive outcome has been noteworthy.

Now, during the match against Atlético Madrid (1-2), where he showcased his best performance since returning from injury by inadvertently assisting with a backheel in Pedri González's goal, Gavi expressed his discontent with the performance of a particular figure, one of the 'heavyweights' in the Cule dressing room: Robert Lewandowski. His frustration stemmed not so much from a lack of scoring prowess, but rather from 'Lewy's' apparent limited defensive contribution.

Gavi's Callout to Robert Lewandowski in Barça-Atlético

Lewandowski, as a '9', should lead the press to prevent the opposing defense from having freedom in their build-up, yet in these situations, Robert has shown little aggressiveness, preferring to stay near the midfield line. Faced with this, on numerous occasions, Gavi, regardless of age or hierarchy, urged the Warsaw native to press more, raising his arms and signaling from afar for him not to allow Clément Lenglet, the main architect of Atletico's play from the back, to progress so easily into the midfield.

This callout was repeated on more than one occasion. At the end of the first half, Gavi, visibly displeased, approached Lewandowski to express his discontent. The former Bayern Munich player responded by indicating that when Atlético Madrid switched sides, he moved towards the center and didn't need to press, which is a common tactical coordination between a forward and an attacking midfielder in pressuring opposing defenders.

The conversation between them didn't last long. Afterwards, still contemplating the issue, Gavi wanted to discuss the play further with one of his key partners on and off the field, Pedri González. Covering their mouths, they debated the play as they headed towards the dressing rooms. The Andalusian continued to believe that 'Lewy' should press higher, a matter that, if left unaddressed, could lead to more disagreements, given that Lewandowski's effectiveness in this aspect has been questioned on several occasions.

Gavi telling Pedri about how Lewandowski weakens the team with his lack of pressing and missed chances.pic.twitter.com/HMVtYyhfxk

— Ezenwayi CampNou (@Jiji_Byte) December 23, 2024