Dest clearly is Barca’s best option at RB, but he is even more clearly buried in Xavi’s doghouse. Araujo is probably their best CB and playing him at RB hurts them defensively and offensively.
Frenkie, who also is in Xavi’s doghouse, came in after an hour on Saturday and was clearly the best player on the pitch. IMO, Barca should play a 3-4-3. They don’t need two attacking backs with the speed and width Dembele and Rafinha can provide on the wings, and Alba is a major liability defensively. Frenkie should replace Busquets. He is the best outlet for TerStegen from the back and can bring the ball up against pressure. He also has great vision and can get the ball to an open winger quickly.
Gavi is just lost when he is on the pitch at the same time as Pedri. They don’t work well together. Put Kessie in his place or in Busi’s place if Gavi can be effective in a 3-4-3.
Frenkie refused a transfer to Man U because he won’t go to a team not playing in the Champions League. He might accept a transfer to Chelsea if Xavi doesn’t start him this week with Busi suspended, especially after he was so good on Saturday. I don’t know how good a fit he is for Chelsea since his best position is where Jorginho plays. He and his gf love Barcelona so much that they really don’t want to leave the city. It’s as much the city as the team for him. In the 3 months we were just there, we saw them 3 or 4 times just walking around or eating in an outdoor cafe. Also saw him out with some Dutch players who I think were visiting after their season ended. Didn’t look like Ajax players to me so I think they were former teammates ftom his junior team. I have never seen another Barca player out in public in the 7 long trips I have taken to Barcelona which total almost 13 months. He also reportedly is already fluent in Spanish and speaks Catalan adequately.