RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Hansi Flick has a big challenge ahead of himself at Barcelona.
The goal is a La Liga three-peat, and to get there, he will have to build a new and improved version of Barcelona that takes his system to the next level.
Real Madrid in particular is spending big to knock the reigning Spanish kings of their throne. They’re hoping that the decisive signing of the summer will be Rodri, if they can make a deal with Manchester City.
The midfield is Barcelona’s bread and butter, and yet when you look at the squad, the question going into this season is whether it will continue to be an area of strength.
Hansi Flick is not like his predecessors. This isn’t a tiki taka, possess for the sake of it kind of team. Instead of trying to find the next Sergio Busquets, Flick has changed the tactics to make the Blaugrana a more direct team who instead of always playing from the back, prioritize winning the ball higher up the field and attacking from there.
Pedri has since played in the a deeper role and excelled, usually alongside Frenkie de Jong if he’s healthy. As of late, however, that’s become a big if.
The surprise of the summer when Flick arrived two years ago was the debut of Marc Bernal. It looked like the teenager was going to be the next breakout star at Barcelona before he went down with a shock ACL and meniscus tear just days into his career. In the end, he was sidelined for more than a year. Last season, Flick was very cautious with the minutes he gave him.
For the past few years, Gavi has also struggled to make his way back to full fitness after suffering a severe ACL tear in 2023. Going into this season, though, Barcelona’s warrior will be raring to go, determined to make up for lost time.
Frenkie de Jong will be out for months. That means the job is there for Gavi or Marc Bernal to take.
The two players have very different profiles, but both will be hoping this is their comeback year with a chance to prove to Hansi Flick that they are indispensable to his project.
One thing that I find encouraging is the arrival of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi. These are Flick’s forwards, and they will set the example for how to press high with commitment and determination. If they’re successful, and the other forwards follow suit, the midfielders behind them will have a field day.
There are concerns, rightfully, around the depth of the defensive line, and finding a new center forward to replace Robert Lewandowski.
If there is one thing Flick has proven, however, it’s that that the collective is what matters most.
Losing Frenkie before the season even starts is frustrating. Waiting for Barcelona to sign a new striker and defender isn’t fun, and the longer the time passes, questions will be asked about how far the team can go without proper depth at every position.
In the midfield, with Gavi and Marc Bernal at least, there are options. In the end, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them sharing playing time.
Flick will want more than a short term band aid. The manager wants, and deserves at this point, long term solutions he can count on.
This is a golden opportunity for Gavi and Marc Bernal to shine.
This season, they have the chance to play a leading role as Barcelona defend their title.
There’s a lot on the line, and anyone who wants a place in Flick’s starting eleven will have to hit the ground running and show how hard they’re willing to fight for it.
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