Since taking cost as the brand new Barcelona head coach, Hansi Flick has modified a whole lot of issues in Catalonia.
Regardless of the latest dip in type, Barça stay a drive to be reckoned with and far of that ought to be attributed to Flick and his methods.
Throughout his first 4 or 5 months in workplace, one factor that has significantly stood out is Flick’s means to leverage the substitutes.
Flick’s substitution technique to date
Certainly, an in-depth have a look at Flick’s method over the season to date reveals some intriguing patterns in how he makes use of his squad.
Flick has opted for 5 substitutions in 19 out of the 24 video games performed this season, indicating a reliance on his bench to change the course of matches or to handle participant fatigue.
That is hardly shocking both, as Flick comes from the Bundesliga, the place utilising substitution is commonplace.
One of the notable facets of Flick’s technique entails the administration of key gamers.
Flick has masterfully used his substitutes this season (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
Stars like Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have been often substituted, suggesting a deal with preserving their bodily situation for essential moments later in matches or in subsequent video games.
On the defensive finish, Inigo Martinez stands out as essentially the most constant starter, seldom being substituted.
Nevertheless, it have to be famous that Flick has needed to cope with a extreme lack of depth as properly, so far as the central defensive unit is anxious.
That stated, the participant who has seen essentially the most motion from the bench is Pedri, having been substituted 18 occasions.
This frequent rotation may mirror Flick’s technique to handle the younger midfielder’s enjoying time, balancing his growth with the necessity to forestall burnout, which has maybe performed a key motive behind his sturdy performances this season.
General, Flick has adopted a extra nuanced and complicated method relating to substitutions. It is a contemporary pivot from Xavi’s period, which encountered numerous issues with regard to substitutes.