Hello world, Barça look liberated and ready for the spotlight

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Hansi Flick’s vision and identity come into focus against Valladolid

It was one small step forward at a time for Barcelona in their first three games of the season, and then one giant leap into the future in their 7-0 demolition of Valladolid.

That’s what happens when you go about the business of the game with confidence and professionalism.

With the injury to Marc Bernal, Hansi Flick simply inserted Marc Casadó into the lineup. The more challenges you throw at this manager, the more he shows you it doesn’t matter.

Because this is a true team he’s building.

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And it’s not about ideology, or a specific system or formation either.

The strict 4-2-3-1 is not realistic anymore. Barcelona couldn’t find a new pivot on the market, they got rid of Ilkay Gündogan, and now their best options in the position are injured.

But that’s OK. It’s not about structure or positioning for his team, but rather mentality.

It’s not such a far jump to a 4-3-3.

Pedri has already shown he can adapt and support whoever is playing in the holding role, and there are plenty of players who are proving adept at playing behind the striker, a position that Robert Lewandowski is locking down in the early goings.

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This team, on the surface, sure looks a lot like the guys from last year.

The same attacking trident of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Lewandowski. A backline of Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí, and Iñigo Martínez.

The difference is how they’re playing.

The boring, predictable, and ineffective side-to-side and backwards passing is gone.

That was well illustrated throughout almost all of the seven goals on Saturday.

The first two goals were balls over the top. Great runs from a frontline that you couldn’t track. Yes, Raphinha was on the left wing on paper, but he was showing up all over the place. Same for Lamine and Dani Olmo too.

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The intent was always to go forward. Run at, and behind, defenders at all times.

The chaos of goal number four, that Raphinha ended up tapping in, was another case in point. Olmo played in a ball, Lamine and Lewandowski kept it alive, and Raphinha didn’t give up on the play. Eventually it just dropped to his feet.

The idea is to be free. Make it hard for the defenders to know where you’re going to be. Make it a challenge for one another to play with your head up, and find the runs.

It unlocks the innate talent these players already have.

And Raphinha may be the player who benefits the most from this liberated style of play. Not since his days at Leeds United did he have the green light to go forward and create danger as he saw fit.

Best of all, it’s fun.

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We’re having fun watching it. And the players look happy too. They also look calm, like this is just the natural consequence of respecting the game, taking calculated risks, and asserting your technical and tactical superiority.

It frankly looks easy. Intelligence is knowing how to make the complex look simple.

Now, unfortunately, they have to take a break. And we all know historically that sometimes, coming out of these breaks, complacency can sink in.

That can’t be the case for this iteration of Barcelona. Professionalism has to win the day.

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And with Hansi Flick in charge, that’s the impression I’m getting.

No days off. This team is building the right habits.

Let’s see how far it can take them.

Source: barcablaugranes.com