The balance of Jordi Cruyff

Jordi was Danny's son as a child, the mother who, in the eyes of distant Barcelona fans with Cruyff, pointed out the names of those players who did not pass the ball to her son in the subsidiary matches, the same one who was known as " Marilyn” for her platinum-colored hair that shone so much in the cigar and glass box at the Miniestadi.

Jordi himself became Johan's son since he debuted at the Camp Nou and became a professional footballer who came to play for Manchester United after scoring such beautiful and decisive goals as the one at San Mamés that qualified Barcelona for the UEFA Cup at the end of the 1994-1995 season.

Around the value and identity of a very good player like Jordi Cruyff there has always been a lot of debate until he became a relevant member of the Barça technical secretary.

And Jordi Cruyff speaks of balance, of being less dogmatic with the Barça DNA that is so often put in the mouth of his father Johan, in order to be more competitive in Europe.

The son of Danny and Johan participates in the common thesis that if the teams win games, it is the squads that allow them to win titles, a compelling reason to sign footballers like Frank Kessié and Andreas Christensen, the two players who have presented by Barça after both had the release letter once their contracts with Milan and Chelsea ended.

Now they are halftime figures waiting to find out if it will finally be true that Lewandowski, Koundé, Raphinha will stop at the Camp Nou.

More information

Barcelona awaits an answer from Bayern for Lewandowski while presenting Christensen

Kessié's name is associated with that of Yaya Touré, Keita or Davids and even evokes that line of midfielders who formed the starting line in the 2006 Paris final -Deco, Edmilson and Van Boomel- before Iniesta, Belletti and Larsson appeared for come back against Arsenal.

A trio very different from the one made up of Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta and which forms the holy trinity of Barcelona midfielders.

Busquets will continue for another year, Pedri is willing to set the style in line with Xavi and there are doubts about the third midfielder, a position that is often indefinite and difficult to interpret after being elevated by a unique striker-midfielder like Iniesta.

That's where Frenkie de Jong and Gavi compete right now after Coutinho's failure.

The description of "worker" tends to function as a complementary and even differential value for a team that prioritizes the stylists, always better disposed to run the ball, little apt to retreat and more comfortable when they act from the opposite field pushed by the centre-backs, a display that requires harmony, synchronization and precision that are not always present at Barça.

Many Barcelona fans feel safer when a player with the fierce look of Kessié appears in the squad photo.

“The public has always been reserved towards class players who did not add to this quality the indispensable requirement of combativeness”, reads the article “Barça!.

Barca! Barca!"

that Manuel Vázquez Montalbán wrote in 1969 for the magazine

.

That feeling still remains in some sectors of the Camp Nou.

Kessié's seriousness, Christensen's kindness

The last representative of the species would be Ilaix Moriba and previously Paulinho.

Now Kessié bursts in, a 25-year-old midfielder who started as a central defender, international for the Ivory Coast and from Milan after being compared to Atalanta.

Analysts highlight his power (1.83 meters and 88 kilos), arrival, ability to win divided duels, finish plays and convert penalties: 24 out of 28. All his energy allows him to move freely and vertically on the pitch and on the contrary, he does not dominate the positional game so much, which is key for Barça.

Kessié's seriousness contrasts with Christensen's kindness.

Although both have signed for four years, have a clause of 500 million euros and could even play in the same position, they are very different players, the Ivorian is more of a midfielder and the Dane is a defender,

It is not easy at all to be a central defender at Barça.

The list of players who have not lived up to expectations is extensive, although most fans focus on Chigrinski's name.

As with the trio of midfielders Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta, memory retains Puyol and Piqué as the ideal defensive pairing.

There is also an excellent memory of Márquez and above all of midfielders who were recycled and excelled in defense like Mascherano and sometimes Popescu.

Not even the players from the academy found it easy to adapt to the position and if not, it is enough to remember Muniesa, Bartra, Fontàs or now Mingueza.

Nor was it easy for Milito, Blanc, Pellegrino or Frank de Boer.

The Barça central defender has been required so much that he knows how to go out with the ball played that sometimes he forgot to be a defender,

Injuries have decimated Umtiti and Lenglet has become so demoralized that he agreed to go on loan to Tottenham.

Neither did Marlon, Todibo, Yerry Mina, Cáceres or Vermaelen consolidate.

There is not a season without a new centre-back and who knows if there will still be money for Koundé.

The bet at the moment is Christensen.

The Dane is distinguished by his neatness with the ball, his anticipation, his reading of the game and his experience, and in exchange for him he is criticized for his lack of aggressiveness, an appreciable deficit lately at Barça.

With Araujo's continuity assured, Christensen will compete for the position with Eric García and Piqué, who assures that he is not resigned to being a substitute after being warned by Xavi.

The challenge is precisely to increase the competitiveness and depth of the squad, enrich it with players who apparently fit very well or are different,

“We talk a lot about Barça DNA and Cruyffism and we also need economic stability and sporting balance”, insists Jordi Cruyff.

"And the balance that allows the team to win matches is found with the signing of players with specific profiles, some less visible but whose less flashy work allows the teammate to shine", closes the son of Johan and Danni while Laporta nods: "Kessié He has a goal and can help in defense and Christensen is a defender who can help the midfielders.

Both feel committed to Barça football”.

You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on

50% off

Exclusive content for subscribers

read without limits

subscribe

I'm already a subscriber