The Xavi era kicks off on Saturday night with a local derby against Espanyol - and every Barcelona fan is hoping it will last for several glorious years and not a few disappointing months.
The 41-year-old coach is no fool and he knows Barcelona played just as Pep Guardiola wanted them to from 2008 through to 2012 in part because the club had fantastic players, far superior to those currently available.
But he is putting his faith in four teenagers, the products of a youth system that is about the only thing at the club not broken and busted by years of mismanagement.
The Xavi era at Barcelona kicks off on Saturday night with a local derby against Espanyol
Teenagers Pedri (left) and Ansu Fati (right) will be the pillars of Barcelona's future under Xavi
The four pillars of Barca’s future will be 19-year-olds Ansu Fati and Nico Gonzalez, 17-year-old Gavi, and 18-year-old Pedri. And while it is a big ask for Fati to become the new Lionel Messi – even though he has already shown a similar gift for big goals at big moments – there is a genuine hope that Gavi, Nico and Pedri can become the new Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta.
It will not happen overnight and it will definitely not happen on Saturday night because two of those four are injured. In fact when Barcelona take on neighbours Espanyol it will be a case of new manager, same old problems.
Xavi only has three fit first-team forwards ahead of the game, with Ousmane Dembele joining Pedri and Fati on the sidelines.
Youngsters Nico Gonzalez (left) and Gavi (right) could feature from the get-go on Saturday
Up front Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and 18-year-old Yusuf Demir should all be available but Xavi is likely to pick only the former and use Gavi further forward along with a youngster drafted in from the B-team.
In defence Gerard Pique will partner Eric Garcia with Jordi Alba at left back. The doubt is over who plays at right back.
With Dani Alves watching from the stands and counting down the days until he can be registered (from January 1), it will probably be Sergio Roberto or Oscar Mingueza who starts ahead of Sergino Dest who has a back problem.
In midfield, Busquets will anchor flanked by Nico and Frenkie de Jong. That would enable Gavi to play further forward with Depay leaving one more starting berth for a third forward.
