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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 1h ago
Barcelona manager faces major selection dilemma between two Spanish midfield stars
Barcelona manager faces major selection dilemma between two Spanish midfield stars
Barcelona have many positions in the starting line-up where two players are competing for the same role, and that is always the sign of a well-rounded squad.
Attacking midfield is, and has been, one such position for a while now, with both Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez deserving to start there.
Now, according to SPORT , the arrivals of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have significantly reshaped Barcelona’s attacking options.
With the two new signings expected to occupy the wide positions alongside Raphinha, the attacking midfield role now appears to be the only natural starting spot available for both Olmo and Fermin.
Last season, Flick occasionally found ways to accommodate both players, with Fermin sometimes drifting to the left flank.
Fermin has recovered from his injury. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
That solution now looks far less likely. Gordon’s arrival strengthens Barcelona on the left wing, while Adeyemi offers another option across the front line and can also operate centrally if needed.
As a result, both Fermin and Olmo are expected to battle primarily for the No. 10 role behind the striker.
There is an option for Olmo to move deeper into midfield, but that is unlikely to happen when Pedri is available.
Two different profiles, one position
Although they compete for the same place, the two midfielders bring different qualities.
Fermin is known for his late runs into the penalty area, energy and eye for goal, while Olmo offers greater creativity, technical quality and link-up play between midfield and attack.
Their numbers from last season underline how evenly matched they are.
Fermin finished the campaign with 13 goals and 17 assists, while Olmo contributed eight goals and 10 assists despite playing a similar number of matches.
Olmo starred for Spain at the World Cup. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Olmo, meanwhile, returns full of confidence after playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph, while Fermin is back to full fitness after the foot injury that ruled him out of the tournament.
A good headache to have
For Flick, this is exactly the kind of competition every top coach wants. Rather than choosing between a proven starter and an understudy, Barcelona have two high-level attacking midfielders capable of deciding matches in different ways.
The challenge now lies with Flick to manage their minutes and make sure both players remain content with their roles.
As Barcelona dream of competing on multiple fronts and winning trophies like the Champions League , they need a Fermin-Olmo kind of competition in each outfield position.
It remains to be seen whether either Spaniard pulls ahead and becomes a clear starter next season or whether the two continue to rotate minutes under Hansi Flick.
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