ZEKEY MEDIA ONLINE

Melody Zekey Pande

This season in La Liga, Barcelona has demonstrated a commendable performance, boasting an impressive record of 9 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. This places the team 2nd in the league. At home, Barcelona has been formidable, achieving 5 victories without any draws or losses. Conversely, their away performances have been average, marked by 4 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. While the primary objective remains to secure wins, the tactical approach is vital for maintaining consistency and minimizing unnecessary defeats.
In their recent encounter against Celta Vigo, Barcelona secured a narrow 4-2 victory; however, their defensive weaknesses were evident. The team struggled to effectively contain their opponents, often leaving the goalkeeper vulnerable due to an excessively high defensive line. Head coach Hans Flick has repeatedly expressed frustration over the team’s lack of intense pressing. What, then, are the potential solutions to these issues? Barcelona has now conceded goals in 10 consecutive matches, averaging 1.25 goals per game. While they average 2.67 goals scored per match, such a defensive record is unacceptable for a club of Barcelona’s stature, especially since Wojciech Szczesny has failed to secure a clean sheet in 9 games this season.
Flick, who recently celebrated his 50th match with Barcelona against Celta, emphasized that the forwards’ lack of pressing is significantly contributing to the team’s challenges. He seeks a “more connected” approach when out of possession, noting that the forward line often sits too deep. However, the line he refers to is not the defensive line—this cannot be raised further—but rather the positioning of the forwards.
Last season’s success stemmed from the team exhibiting the necessary intensity, resulting in high turnovers from opponents and effective counter-attacking play. Currently, however, fatigue, injuries, reduced intensity, poor structure, and miscommunication have led to defensive vulnerabilities.
In my view, Flick needs to refine his tactical approach based on the available squad before matches and ensure that in-game adjustments and substitutions are timely and effective. For example, when leading in a match, it is crucial to maintain possession and avoid playing the backline too high. Defending should be a collective responsibility, especially considering the style of football Flick advocates.
Regarding Hansi’s tactics, I acknowledge that his system has historically brought immense success, and he may be reluctant to make significant changes. While it’s easy to criticize players like Cubarsí and Eric Garcia for perceived shortcomings, or to point fingers at Balde and Kounde for defensive lapses, I also hold the forwards and midfielders accountable for their insufficient pressing. This allows opponents to advance the ball with ease, exploiting the offside trap. Ultimately, we can only hope that Barcelona will rise to the challenge, defend their titles, and pursue further success.