Barca’s deep roster presents new challenges for Flick

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It’s decision time for the manager as Barcelona gets back to full health

Winning is difficult no matter how talented your team is.

That’s why there was so much skepticism surrounding Barcelona when Hansi Flick was announced as the new coach, and as the club spent the summer quietly navigating the transfer market.

Losing Ilkay Gündoğan was the biggest shock of all. Why would Flick sanction the departure of his best midfielder without a replacement?

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There were so many questions surrounding the Barcelona roster.

The best player of the preseason, Pau Víctor, has barely featured. Flick allowed Álex Valle to leave for Celtic as well, in spite of some very promising performances.

It was as if to say, it’s not about any one player. The demand is to understand the footballing values he was trying to instill, and to manifest them collectively on the field.

Barcelona has been a goal scoring machine, and most of the credit should be duly given to Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal. Going forward, this trident picks itself if they remain fit. But remember that the more success this team has, the more games they will have to play, and backup options will be needed to rotate from time to time.

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Going forward, the biggest challenge for Flick will be managing the patience and expectations of the midfielders, as just about all of them are now back from injury. We’ll see you next year Marc Bernal.

The good news is that Flick has had success with every midfielder he’s used in his 4-2-3-1 formation. The profiles are different, but the tactics are well understood by all.

But footballers want to play. And there are only three spots available.

One thing that seems non-negotiable in the system is the double pivot. Of all the options, Marc Casado is the newest Blaugrana player, and therefore seemingly at the bottom of the depth chart.

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I think that most of us will agree, however, that Casado is a true breakout star, and a player not only for now, but for years to come. He has been the unsung engine of the team in recent weeks, doing the dirty work defensively, and pushing the attack when the ball turns over with tempo and directness.

The other player who can’t be dropped is Pedri. What’s astonished me is how good he’s been in a holding role alongside Casado. It’s true that Barcelona finally unlocked Real Madrid when he moved to the ten, but don’t be surprised if you see him in the double pivot more times than not.

But that will depend on what Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Fermín López can do with the minutes they are given.

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You can imagine that Flick will see Frenkie as his next man up, with Pedri playing in front. But Frenkie will have to earn his spot back with energy and consistent fighting spirit. His skill will never be called into question. In the Clasico, that’s exactly what he did to get his team going in the second half.

No one should feel safe though. Because Gavi is itching to be thrown back into battle. This is the player who intrigues me the most. He’ll have a lot to prove, whether he plays in the defensive midfield, most likely I think, or higher up. Under Flick, he’ll have to push himself to really adapt to the system. No doubt he’ll get his chances, but he’ll have to be patient over the next few weeks.

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With so many midfielders coming back from injury, and a player like Pedri with a history of knocks and serious setbacks, it’s good that Flick has options. Rotating in the position will be essential for Barcelona to go the distance.

We haven’t yet mentioned Eric Garcia or Andreas Christensen, early contenders to take over in the double pivot. I’d expect Christensen to move back to the backline, which is a good thing. Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez can’t keep playing 90 minutes without breaks. And as Ronald Araujo comes back, it will also be good to not push him too hard, and to give him time instead to properly recover, and manage his minutes upon returning.

The one I worry about is Fermín López. Although he got the last two starts, he may be destined for a role as a super sub. But you don’t want to see his talents wasted on the bench with his confidence sky high after a sensational summer leading Spain to Olympic gold.

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Pablo Torre is another who has done so well in the few minutes given, but will struggle to see any minutes at all going forward. Maybe in the Copa del Rey?

These are good problems for Hansi Flick to have.

But he is managing a group of elite players, all of whom have egos, and something to prove.

For now, an all for one and one for all culture is winning the day.

For that to continue, the team must keep winning too.

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For fun, here’s my team when everyone is healthy? What’s yours?

Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal. Note, at some point, I think Flick will turn to Wojciech Szczęsny.

Source: barcablaugranes.com