Barcelona must survive until the reinforcements arrive

Win, however they can. That’s Barcelona’s only objective for the two remaining league games this year. Beat Elche this afternoon. Beat Sevilla on Tuesday. Wait for the reinforcements, Pedri and Ansu, and hopefully Ferran Torres. Barcelona have to survive until then to hope for Champions League football next season.

Xavi has what he has. And with this squad he has to make miracles. They aren’t making chances or goals. They have won six games out of 16. Mediocre numbers leading a to an 18-point abyss between them and Real Madrid. They now have to target the top four. A modest objective for a club used to winning titles. Hard, but possible.

But for that you have to win, and don’t stop winning. Starting with Elche. An opponent that would usually be considered easy. But in Barcelona’s situation, any team is a risk. They have to change the dynamic, come out of their spiral. Xavi himself recognises that the players are finding it hard to understand what he wants from them in terms of positional play.

With this level it’s hard to think about improving, but they have to. The coach is optimistic. He thinks they have got better but results have not gone their way. The priority now is to win, to calm things down. This afternoon is a good place to start. It has to be.