Sergi Roberto MkII…
If there’s one thing that Hansi Flick doesn’t mind doing at Barcelona, it’s being brave.
Whether that’s instructing his back line to consistently sit on the halfway line and squeeze the opponent, or moving players into positions to try something new and different, the first-team coach is clearly someone who doesn’t do boring or regret.
If it doesn’t work, so be it and back to the drawing board he goes, but if it does, that’s yet another option for the squad when they need it.
One player that has been in danger of becoming a bit-part player under the current regime is Marc Casado.
Though he had a decent enough 2024/25 campaign, it was getting to the stage this season where question marks were being asked as to where the 22-year-old could best fit in.
With Frenkie de Jong and Pedri almost always taking up two of the three midfield positions, injuries notwithstanding, that would effectively mean Casado battling for the other spot with the likes of Eric Garcia, Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Dro Fernandez, depending if Flick wanted a more defensively minded midfielder there, or someone who offers a bit more as an attacking presence.
During the recent Copa del Rey win against Guadalajara, Casado was stationed at right-back, a role he played with some aplomb whilst with Barca B.
In a move not too dissimilar to the reinvention of Sergi Roberto, that might just prove to be a genius switch from Flick, as he retains the services of a player he clearly likes, whilst rotating Jules Kounde as and when needed.
Whilst Casado needs to refine certain aspects of his game, he is a hard-working and tenacious player who can be relied upon to always give 100 per cent.
He clearly isn’t in Kounde’s class when it comes to raiding down the channels and providing that supplementary attacking presence, but there’s also nothing stopping him from learning and honing his craft as he gains more experience in the role.
Arguably, there are aspects of Casado’s defending that Kounde could take his cue from, given that the Frenchman has struggled to consistently find his very best form this season.
The latter half of the season is the perfect opportunity for Casado to prove his worth to the manager. He will have see how a number of team-mates, particularly Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin, have turned around their fortunes at their club with a shift in position and may be the next in line to benefit from Flick’s tinkering.
Category: General Sports
