Xavi needs to rid Barcelona of their soft underbelly

Well then... that was fun for 45 minutes. Like, really fun.

The first half at Balaidos saw Barca back to doing what they do best. Opening up the pitch, keeping the ball for long periods, accurate passing and first-class execution.

It was, frankly, an absolute joy to watch after the rubbish we’ve been consistently served up during the Ronald Koeman era.

The injuries to Ansu and Nico are lamentable, particularly with Xavi waiting in the wings, ready to shape those two, and Barca’s other youngsters, into players the club will be proud of. Or should that be more proud of.

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In fact, his presence on the bench couldn’t be any better timed.

Sergi Barjuan was always just the temporary custodian of course, but with a more authoritative voice and demonstrable persona at Balaidos, Saturday’s game may still have ended with a win for the Catalans.

As it was, Barca’s soft underbelly was exposed yet again. As soon as any team, yes any team, applies even the slightest pressure, we fall like a pack of cards.

Celta have long been a bogey team of ours, granted, but at 3-0 up away from home and coasting, there is no way that we should be giving up the win.

Particularly against a team that hadn’t managed to score a goal in their last five matches.

It’s impossible for Barcelona to succumb so easily. Or at least it should be. Though these types of performances are now becoming an annoying common occurrence.

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Xavi certainly has his work cut out in terms of being able to restore what little confidence the team have left.

You only needed to picture the players on their knees at the end. Battered. Broken. Knowing that they’d let another three points slip away.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Xavi’s return is the lift that everyone needs. A calming presence but a man who is not going to settle for second best.

Who is going to get right into this group of players and make damn sure that each and every one is focused and giving 100 percent in training every day and in matches.

There simply can’t be any half measures now. If that means that a passenger or two is dispensed with, so be it.

The team will need to earn their place back at the top table again because it isn’t a God given right, and Xavi will surely do his upmost to make that a reality.