Navigating the Ups and Downs: Barcelona’s Season of Promise and Peril with Hansi Flick

These past few weeks have been nothing but a rollercoaster for Barcelona, from the highs of the Supercopa win, the draw against Getafe, and the crazy remontada against Benfica, the question is- sustainability.

 

High Line

 

Barcelona played a high line, which became a headache for opponents who had no answer about how to bypass the line. Kylian Mbappé was caught offside 12 times, while Barcelona provoked a staggering 77 offsides until the El Clásico in October. All seemed to go well until Real Sociedad at Anoeta figured out the solution—find a midfielder who leaves his marker and runs in behind the defense while the striker gets into a comfortable goalscoring position.

 

 

Since that match, Barcelona has just won 1 game in La Liga and has gone from being the leader to joint third. However, there have been reasons for the possible flaw in the high line — Marc Casadò doesn’t stay closer to CBs, which forces Jules Koundé to tug in to form a compact block, leaving the winger free (Bayern’s goal, Benfica’s goal in UEFA Champions League). In a high line with a high press, the positioning of DM is vital while defending counterattacks.

 

Wojciech Szczęsny is also not too comfortable leaving the box as a sweeper-keeper. Though, Hansi Flick has improved Barcelona in pressing and Barcelona has won a lot of balls in the opposition’s half. The structure is a high-risk, high-reward idea and needs flawless execution to produce success. It remains to be seen how Flick counters the problems associated with high line, especially how thin the squad is in defence but the idea has worked to some extent and has been great in big games.

 

A Deep Dive into Barcelona’s Set-Piece Success This Season

 

Inefficiency

 

Barcelona has demonstrated impressive attacking capabilities this season, scoring a remarkable 101 goals in 32 matches. This is particularly noteworthy given last season, where they netted just 110 goals over the entire campaign. The Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha trio has gelled well, contributing significantly to the team’s success. However, whenever Yamal has not been on the pitch in the past two months, Lewandowski and Raphinha have struggled to convert their chances, leading to poor results.

 

 Statistically, Barcelona has been unable to win a match when Yamal is absent, which is concerning. Pedri has excelled in creating numerous high-quality opportunities, yet the lack of conversion remains an issue. A team that employs a high-line defensive structure must be efficient in front of the goal.

 

The recent match against Atlético Madrid highlighted this problem, as Barcelona dominated play but ultimately lost. Midfielders and bench players must step up in such situations. Having players like Federico Valverde and Kevin De Bruyne, known for their long-range shooting ability, would greatly benefit Barcelona in difficult moments, as such goals can be game-changers. 

 

Jules Koundé: Barcelona’s Indispensable Defender

 

Currently, apart from Ferran Torres, and Fermín López, there are no other attackers on the bench who can provide effective contributions. Ansu Fati’s situation remains uncertain, Pau Víctor lacks experience, and Dani Olmo has a history of injuries.

 

This limited depth in the squad may lead to fatigue for the starting players and heighten the risk of underperformance. While reliance on the starting trio is understandable, they are overburdened and can have off days. As LaLiga progresses, consistency is critical for success, and that’s an area where Flick’s Barcelona needs improvement.

 

 

Squad Depth

 

If there’s one clear issue, it’s Barcelona’s lack of squad depth to compete at the highest level. Flick has demonstrated that he is capable of leading Barcelona back to glory. Under his guidance, players like Pau Cubarsí Pedri, Yamal, Gavi, Casadò, and Alejandro Balde have shown tremendous growth.

 

Pedri has managed to stay fit and play more consistently, while Gavi’s return from his ACL injury has been impressive. Balde, who faced doubts about his decision-making skills, is now flourishing both defensively and offensively. And Cubarsí and Yamal? Their development has been noteworthy.

 

Flick has adeptly navigated the team’s financial constraints, achieving significant results with just two signings and leveraging La Masia’s talent. Dominating teams like Madrid and Bayern is no easy feat, but Flick has succeeded. Now it’s time for president Joan Laporta to back him. The team has immense potential, but fatigue could undermine their efforts, which is a situation that only Laporta can address. He needs to ensure there are players available for rotation while maintaining team dynamics.

 

Pau Cubarsí: Barcelona’s Rafa Márquez Regen

 

The goalkeeping situation is also a concern. With Marc-André Ter Stegen injured, both Iñaki Peña and Szczęsny have been prone to errors, and investment in this area is essential. A strong sweeper-keeper could help alleviate some of the defensive issues. Additionally, finding a replacement for Lewandowski and a wide threat to cover for Yamal’s absence, while also addressing the fullback position, should be a priority. A few key additions could elevate this team to the next level.

 

Conclusion

 

When discussing Barcelona, we recognize it as one of the best offensive teams in the world. The appointment of Flick has proven to be a masterstroke and is showing success so far. The team has already secured the Spanish Super Cup, reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League, is still competing in the La Liga title race, and has made it to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. The season is just beginning for Barcelona, and this period will ultimately determine whether it is regarded as a success or a failure. 

 

Is Flick’s strategic model sustainable? Yes, but some minor adjustments are necessary to push the team toward its ultimate goal. It’s an exciting time, with confidence at its peak. Let’s hope Barcelona can enjoy the fruits of the hard work that has been put in thus far.

 

By: Yashanil Tiwari / @yaks_cule

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Alex Caparros / Getty Images