THE PROS AND CONS OF THE 'JOAOS'
Creativity and 'chaos': The contribution of Joao Félix and Cancelo at Barça
Joao Félix and Joao Cancelo have been indisputable in Xavi Hernández's plans since they landed in Barcelona on the last day of the summer transfer market. His 'contribution' to the team has been irregular in these first months
The FC Barcelona did with the services of two players determinants in the last day of the market of signings of summer, Joao Cancel and Joao Félix. Both did big efforts to land in the City Condal through a loan and, for the moment, in the club are very happy with the exert of the two, until the point that, in the planning for the season 2024/2025 appears the name of both. It is an operation complicated, but that pretend to attack.
Although it will depend of the economic factor and the solutions that can find , first, with the Manchester City and the Athletic of Madrid, and, second, with the Fair Play Financial of LaLiga, there are other points that will go in at stake to the hour to take the definite decision on the continuity or no of the Portuguese. The movements will begin in 2024, with the most advanced season, but already is beginning to take note. The performance of both is the big key.
To Joao Félix is missing him the goal
If there is something in what they have coincided the two footballers is that they have turned into indisputable players in the plans of Xavi Hernández. In the case of Joao Félix, sum 14 parties with 938 minutes of action and only has not formed part of the XI initial in two opportunities. Against the Shakhtar, by rest, and in front of the Osasuna, his first party like blaugrana some days after concretising his signing by the club. It has been a player that has contributed quality to the attack, a lot of creativity and a touch of 'magic' in the played that 'extrañaba' in the Barça.
The problem is that it has gone of more to less and the difference has noticed too much. After his three goals in his two first titularities, in front of Betis (1) and Royal Amberes (2), the Portuguese has chained eleven consecutive parties without seeing goal. Had an opportunity in Granada, where had to mark the 2-3 'in extremis', but his goal was cancelled by an offside positional of Ferran Torres. Of rest, the one of Viseu has contributed three assistances. The last was against the Athletic Club, around the middle of October. In the Barça have asked him more and that it was braver and 'selfish' of face to the rival goal, because in front of the return of Pedri and Frenkie of Jong, in spite of the drop of Gavi, runs the risk to lose his condition of indisputable in the eleven.
Joao Cancel, a bullet in attack and problems in defence
The case of Joao Cancel is different, but with some similarities. It has been one of the most used players by Xavi, with 1.153 minutes in 14 parties in which it has been headline in all, to exception of the visit to the Osasuna by his debut. It has adueñado of the right band and has gone experiencing with his position. The majority of the crashes has played them splitting like side, but against the Real Madrid appeared like a 'false' extreme right and, a week afterwards, as inner. Also it has appeared by the left band.
The greater virtue of the Portuguese player is in the offensive facet. It is a player that, constantly, is generating roads of attack and desequilibrando to the rival defence and finishes remaining as a fourth midfield player. It is a profile that likes a lot in the Barça, but that also has consequences and generates chaos in the defensive section. As they remember from 'ACE', has an average of 16,3 losses by party in League and an average of 13 in Champions League. This has propiciado to that they win him the back in too many occasions, factor that Xavi has treated to counter with Araújo by the band.
