Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick is getting ready a big tactical shift forward of the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg towards Inter Milan, as Alejandro Balde has been dominated out as a result of harm, in line with Javier Miguel of .
The information comes as a significant setback for the Catalan membership, simply days earlier than one in all their greatest fixtures of the season.
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Balde’s absence was initially seen as a blow, however with affirmation now filtering from the dressing room that the younger full-back received’t get well in time, Flick has been pressured to rethink his total defensive technique.
What is going to Flick do now?
Slightly than looking for a like-for-like substitute, the German tactician is now strongly contemplating deploying a four-man backline composed largely of centre-backs taking part in out of their pure positions.
One of many key indications of this shift got here throughout Barcelona’s current La Liga fixture towards Actual Valladolid.
Gerard Martin, who has been gaining minutes throughout Balde’s harm, performed the total 90 minutes, suggesting the coach is experimenting with alternate options.
Inigo Martinez will play as a left-back towards Inter Milan. (Picture by Pedro Salado/Getty Pictures)
Nonetheless, the outlet mentions that it’s Inigo Martinez who seems to be the frontrunner to begin on the left aspect of defence, simply as he did within the second half of the primary leg towards Inter at Montjuic, a transfer that labored higher than anticipated.
Garcia would be the right-back
On the other flank, with Jules Kounde additionally sidelined, Eric Garcia is tipped to proceed on the correct. Although primarily a central defender, Garcia has tailored to numerous roles since Flick’s arrival and has change into a mainstay within the beginning lineup.
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Moreover, within the coronary heart of defence, the duo of Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi stays the likeliest possibility.
But, Flick has not fully dominated out beginning Andreas Christensen, particularly given , which reminded lots of his reliability in high-stakes matches.
This makeshift again is a results of Barcelona’s present harm disaster, nevertheless it additionally highlights Flick’s tactical pragmatism.
As a substitute of playing on younger or inexperienced full-backs, the German coach seems prepared to depend on battle-hardened central defenders to soak up Inter’s offensive risk, notably in huge areas.