This will be an important week of reflection for Hansi Flick and everyone involved at Barcelona.
There’s no midweek fixture, which will allow for much-needed recovery time, but around the corner there are big challenges to come in the form of Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona would be wise to see the big picture. Of course they will be judged by their performances in these high-profiles encounters, but what’s more important is to see how they evolve after a week of failure and frustration.
My conclusion, at the moment at least, is that Hansi Flick went into last week with a team that was not able to be the best version of themselves.
Yes, it’s only October, but the start of the season has already been grueling, especially considering the dual international responsibilities of the Barca players, and the fact that the roster is not deep on depth, especially on the defensive end.
This must serve as an early wake-up call for the manager. His tactics work remarkably well when the team is at full strength, but the efficacy falls off dramatically as the calendar turns and the grind takes it toll in the form of injuries and fatigue.
I will always be grateful that, nine times out of ten, we get to watch the most entertaining form of football on offer. In the most consequential games, however, there must be an element of pragmatism.
This is even more the case when you enter a game as short handed as Barcelona were against PSG and Real Madrid.
A backline of Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Xavi Espart, and João Cancelo, with no backups other than Alejandro Balde, was cause for serious concern to begin with, and the logical response should have been to protect them more.
This obviously didn’t require sitting back, but it should have meant reducing the space in behind to take some of the pressure off of the defensive line, and to make life more difficult for the world-class attacking units at PSG and Real Madrid.
A gamble was made over the summer. Flick wagered that having better pressing forwards was the solution, and that it would supercharge his tactics, while minimizing the exposure to his defenders. Against the smaller teams in La Liga, this strategy has paid off handsomely.
After this week, however, there must be a come-to-God moment. That means a recognition that the rest of the best of world will make you pay if you give them so much space and time, all the while your own players are too worn down to maintain the required level of intensity.
What can Barcelona as a club do? Invest in the defensive line. It must be said that, for what Flick’s system demands, against other elite teams at least, he needs defenders who are bigger and faster, and all around, well, better defenders.
It’s also necessary from a depth perspective. You lost Ronald Araujo and a very promising young player in Álvaro Cortés, while bringing in João Cancelo, which only half counts considering he was already at Barcelona on loan the season before.
What can Hansi Flick do? Be realistic about the club you’re coaching at. There’s a very good chance Barcelona will fail to get you what you need in January. Even if they do, don’t fall so in love with the ethos of Barcelona and your own philosophy, that you fail to do what’s necessary tactically to win the big games.
Flick needs to be smart about how he manages the calendar. The biggest risk this season will be injuries to his best players, which is what derailed the last Champions League campaign. He must put his faith in his whole roster, and he must give ample breaks to players like Rodri, Pedri, and Raphinha in particular. I’d even throw a player like Pau Cubarsí in the mix who has been undroppable for club and country lately.
His toughest challenge will be to implement tactical flexibility. Most coaches struggle with this if we’re being honest.
Over a long La Liga season, I think Barcelona still have the advantage with the way Flick wants them to play. In cup competitions, however, he will be judged by his ability to adapt.
Let the disappointment Barcelona is feeling now be fuel for the fire.
Flick doesn’t need a firework show every game, but he needs to know there is enough gas in the tank to make the machine work.
The players will be looking to the coach for answers.
Phase two of the season starts now. It may not be as exciting as the opening act, but the details are what matter going forward.
When the story is written, the ending is what people remember. It’s time to start building towards that.
