Barcelona’s defensive chaos: Who deserves a beginning spot and who have to be benched?

Firstly of the season, Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick discovered himself dealing with a difficult state of affairs by way of his central defensive choices. 

With key gamers akin to Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen sidelined as a consequence of accidents, Flick needed to depend on Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi as his major centre-back pairing. 

This left Barcelona’s defensive setup wanting unsure, and the group needed to adapt to those limitations as greatest as potential. 

Nonetheless, the state of affairs is now wanting brighter. The group has obtained some much-needed constructive information concerning the restoration of its injured defenders. 

Araujo was given medical clearance simply in time for Barcelona’s Champions League match towards Borussia Dortmund. As well as, Christensen has began to combine again into coaching, taking part in some classes with the remainder of the group. 

With the return of Araujo and Christensen, Flick now has a stronger, extra versatile defensive position to work with. 

Up till now, he had been counting on a constant backline of Jules Kounde (taking part in right-back), Cubarsi, Martinez (as centre-backs), and Alejandro Balde (on the left). 

Though the full-back positions had depth with choices like Hector Fort and Gerard Martin, the centre-back positions had been skinny, making it tough to rotate or relaxation gamers successfully.

Extra issues than options

Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo will quickly be out there to begin for Barcelona. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Photos)

Now that Araujo and Christensen are returning, the defensive position will be extra balanced, and Flick may have the chance to handle his gamers’ health higher. 

This added depth, nonetheless, creates its personal set of challenges. One of many predominant points Flick will face is how one can incorporate Araujo and Christensen into the group with out disrupting the steadiness that Cubarsi and Martinez have established over the previous few months. 

The 2 gamers have developed a powerful tactical understanding throughout their time collectively, and it might take time for Araujo and Christensen to regulate to this new system.

Along with this, there may be the problem of adapting to the particular defensive techniques that Flick has carried out. One of many key features of Flick’s defensive strategy is taking part in a sophisticated defensive position, typically flirting with offside traps. 

This technique has been fairly efficient in catching opponents off guard and forcing them into offside positions. The present defenders have internalized this strategy, making it second nature for them. 

Nonetheless, it’s a high-risk technique, and it stays to be seen how Araujo and Christensen will adapt to this explicit type of play. Their means to rapidly combine into this defensive tactic can be essential to their success in Barcelona’s system.

Then there may be Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia has fallen out of favour at Barcelona. (Photograph by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Photos)

One other participant in competition for a defensive position is Eric Garcia, though his involvement has been restricted thus far this season. With simply 457 minutes of taking part in time below his belt, Garcia has largely been seen as a pivot slightly than as a central defender. 

His position within the group has been extra peripheral, and it’s unclear how a lot he’ll function because the competitors for beginning spots intensifies.

With Araujo and Christensen again within the fold, Flick is confronted with a tough determination about who will begin within the central defensive positions. The return of those two defenders gives choices, however it additionally brings a stage of uncertainty. 

Whereas each defenders are established gamers with vital expertise, Flick is understood for prioritizing efficiency over previous standing. 

This implies Araujo and Christensen might want to show themselves in coaching and match conditions to earn their beginning roles as it’s clear that Flick won’t mechanically reinstate them as starters merely due to their earlier standing within the group.