Emotions are always high at the end of a Clásico whether you win or lose.
For Barcelona, there will be a lot to analyze in the days to come, but the debate remains the same in trying to determine why Real
Madrid has been the superior team in La Liga at the beginning of the season.
Has Barcelona simply been unlucky, in large part because of injuries, or are they simply not as good as they were a year ago?
There is no doubt that having so many starters sidelined plays a significant role. In particular, the absence of Raphinha and Joan García, as well as the surprise departure of Iñigo Martínez over the summer. Losing Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo gives Hansi Flick slim pickings when it comes to depth.
The problem against Real Madrid, however, was in the first 45 minutes. Flick was able to choose a strong starting lineup, although I do question his decision to go with Ferran Torres over Marc Casadó. Having Casadó’s fighting spirit, while pushing Frenkie de Jong and Pedri higher up the field, could have helped the Blaugrana play the game on the front foot.
The truth is that Real Madrid have been a confident, organized, and inspired team under Xabi Alonso. Barcelona have not looked like the best version of themselves from the beginning of this campaign.
Real Madrid have a system that they are committed to, while Barcelona look like a team that doesn’t believe anymore in the tactics that they are deploying. They don’t press well, have trouble holding onto the ball, and their high line is repeatedly exposed in decisive moments.
This is a problem that only the manager can fix. If the main issue are the injuries, and an inability to rotate and call on depth pieces as a result of that, then it seems obvious that the tactics have to adapt in a way that keeps their handicap in mind, in order to put the team in a better position to win in spite of the difficult circumstances.
There has been no sign of honest introspection so far. The worry is that Barcelona instead will start to make excuses for themselves, instead of holding themselves accountable.
There is a lot of season ahead. Even when the cavalry arives, Barcelona would do well to start developing a plan B, or at least find a way for their system under Flick to evolve.
Waiting for Raphinha and company to return, and hoping that will magically solve the problems, would be a disappointment if that’s what happens under Flick going forward.
It should now be obvious to everyone that a big part of the problem, and the one that Flick has control over, are indeed the tactics.
He has a lot of talent at his disposal. There is more than one way of playing his brand of attacking football.
Revolution isn’t needed, but fans and pundits alike, and I would imagine most of the dressing room at this point, expect to see an immediate response.
The attitude and intensity need to be much better, but the coach also needs to help his players by communicating a winning gameplan.
The old one is stale. It’s time for some change.
