Xavi Hernández, the head coach of Barcelona, has given some explanation for why defender Andreas Christensen is currently preferred over Oriol Romeu in his midfield lineup.
Naturally, the “pivot” role in Barcelona’s starting lineup has long been a hot topic in the nation’s capital.
This occurs while the Blaugrana are still searching for a deserving replacement for Sergio Busquets, following the experienced Spanish player’s departure last summer.
Before the season started, the previously stated Oriol Romeu was brought in to cover the role temporarily. At first, he seemed like a great fit for Xavi’s engine room setup.
But in the months that followed, the former Girona player’s play declined, ultimately leading to a benching.
However, it has nonetheless caught us off guard to see a star player from Barcelona’s defensive core move up to replace Romeu at the center of the team’s midfield.
In recent weeks, Andreas Christensen has been given preference as the person assigned to watch over the center of Catalunya Park. As a result of the Dane’s diligence, individuals like as Frenkie de Jong and İlkay Gündoğan have had more time to work their magic.
Speaking at a news conference before his team’s La Liga matchup with Getafe on Saturday, Xavi was questioned about the precise rationale behind his decision to stick with Christensen rather than Romeu.
The Spaniard continued by emphasizing the former’s “defensive balance” and “consistency” as the decisive elements:
Romeu has experienced some discomfort, but he is now OK. Andreas is providing the defensive equilibrium we were lacking, enabling us to thwart counterattacks and increase our level of consistency.
