What is Xavi's Barcelona of the future missing?

After Xavi’s arrival Barça's transformation process has been textbook, from a phase of bewilderment and demotivation, to that of a committed and cohesive team, with a style of play that reminds us in some phases of the match of certain sensations that we had forgotten. However, it is still a fragile project, in an advanced phase of construction, but without being fully consolidated.

What is Barca missing? Creating a new Puyol. Why a Puyol and not a coveted superstar? The answer is that the team needs a driver to stimulate their teammates in those phases of the match in which they tend to fall into transitory situations of psychological despondency and disorientation, still very common at Barça against opponents that hinder their tactical approach.

Let us remember those games of Barça from years past, full of talent, with exceptional players such as Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry or Villa among others, who sometimes entered into a strange "trance" of collective absence, meaning it had to be Puyol himself who, with evidently less attacking capability than his team-mates, was a presence at both ends at the same time. The purpose was to awaken his companions from their lethargy and stimulate them again, to maintain the necessary tension in the game.

This natural ability that positively favours the internal dynamics of a self-organized team is what we researchers call ‘team roles’. A team role is different from the functional role of the player, the latter being something expected according to their abilities. Their team roles arise from the interactions between the players themselves. It has been shown that the success of a high-performance team requires eight different roles, with players capable of naturally assuming a certain type of individual leadership, which allows the team to face different situations. Note that once the match has started, the coach transfers leadership to his players on the pitch.

Dynamizer: The Puyol role explained above

Creative: Create new spaces and provide disruptive ideas (Pedri)

Connector: Connects the team with the fans, knows how to negotiate. (Pique)

Coordinator: Distributes tasks and organizes his colleagues (Busquets)

Cohesive: Unites the group emotionally (Dani Alves)

Method: Insistent, faithful to the approach, attentive to details (although still in an early phase, this would be Ferran Torres)

Achiever: Action-oriented, enacting the set plan (most players)

Analytical: He has a global vision of the situation and the ability to anticipate possible problems (it is an ability that Frenkie de Jong might have, although he seems to lack acceptance and belief in this style of leadership)

The absence of any of these styles usually affects the fragility of high-performance teams.

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Article was written by a professor from the EADA Business School.