Hansi Flick has found the key to balance the team in less time than expected. Barça's trajectory is impressive and the results and the game back up the German coach.
Flick has found a way to get the most out of his squad. Verticality, deep play, high pressure and high defense, forcing offsides. These are the keys.
13 Goals Disallowed for Barça's Opponents Due to Offside
This last detail, as was seen in Bernabéu classic, is essential. To leave the opponent offside 18 times, this move must be carefully studied and practiced.
In fact, so far this season, 13 goals against Barça have been ruled out due to offside. Seven of them were decided by the VAR.
Clearly, you have to be very careful. Sticking to the defenders has to be very well trained because Barça plays on a tightrope. One centimetre can tip the balance in favor of one side or the other.
Flick is particularly pleased with Cubarsí and Íñigo Martínez. They are the ones who give the order to the defense to move forward and leave the opposition offside. They carry out these orders perfectly.
This aspect of the game is fundamental to Barça's results. In a few days Hansi Flick will find out that Ronald Araújo has been given the medical all-clear and that he'll be able to include him in his starting lineups.
Flick No Longer Considers Araújo to be Vital: He Won't be a Starter
He won't resort to it in desperation, however. Despite being one of the most sought-after players in the squad. Flick already likes things the way they are. He seriously doubts that Araújo will be able to adapt to the offside logic imposed on his defense.
Araújo has other qualities as a center-back. Still, they don't include the ability that Íñigo Martínez has to keep opposing forwards ahead, for example. Flick has already discussed this issue with him.
Flick knows that the club is trying to get Araújo on the market. He tried to do so last summer but an untimely injury while playing for Uruguay prevented him from doing so. He may try again next winter transfer market or next summer.
The truth is that Flick won't put up any obstacles because, although he hasn't yet been able to count on him, he doesn't consider him to be vital. At least up to now he's done very well without him.
In fact, he trusts the last center-back, Eric García, more than him. In the new concept of Barça's defense, tactics take precedence over physical contact.
One more argument for Laporta to try to turn his departure from the club into a good economic deal.