Hansi Flick’s tactical decision to deploy Dani Olmo as a false nine raised a few eyebrows. It was unexpected, and a few culers even questioned this decision on social media. Let’s discuss the Spaniard’s dual role as a playmaker and scorer. Will this continue moving on?
Olmo as a False Nine: A Bold Move By Flick
Hansi Flick used Dani Olmo as a false nine against Real Betis last night. While some people found this move bold and unconventional, I found it interesting and was excited to see what tactics lay behind it. This role required positional discipline and technically sound gameplay from the 26-year-old.
Flick intended to create a fluid attacking dynamic that would allow Olmo to draw defenders out of position. As he is originally a midfielder, Dani was bound to drop deep, and due to his role as a false nine, he had to go up the pitch, too.
Playmaker or Goal Scorer?
The false nine position gave Dani Olmo a new, mixed role. He dropped deep into the midfield, linked up effectively with Pedri and Gavi and crafted beautiful, quick passing triangles to unlock Betis’s defensive lines.
He pressed high up the pitch whenever out of possession and maintained a good formation with Raphinha and Yamal, too. Although he failed to score, he managed to hit five shots. His dual role was successful, and Olmo had a sensational game. However, I still think his playmaking capability outshone his scoring prowess, as the La Masia player registered two brilliant assists against Betis.
Did The Bold Move Work?
The game was high-stakes, as Barca managed only a draw against Betis in La Liga. So, the move was perceived as a gamble by many Barca fans. However, it worked brilliantly. The Catalans dominated possession and had many mesmerizing midfield gameplays. Marc Bartra and Natan, Betis’s defenders, were unsure whether to follow Olmo or hold positions.
The strategy was a great success due to Olmo’s fantastic numbers last night. He had 72 touches, with nine passes in the final third. He also managed two accurate long balls. These statistics are a great example of his successful dual role, as the player managed to craft final third passes and long balls in the same match.
What Does Olmo’s False Nine Experiment Mean for Future Games?
The decision to deploy Olmo as a false nine shows a great quality of Flick. The German thinks outside the box and is willing to innovate with the team and players. We saw Xavi having this trait, too, but he may have gone too far with it sometimes.
This tactical flexibility might be a great move as Barca struggles with depth in attack but has huge depth in midfield. It can help with rotation and game time for all players, as we saw De Jong complete a 90-minute match after a while last night.
Olmo must also be appreciated for showing a great mentality, work ethic and teamwork. Sometimes, playing a different role than the usual one can be frustrating for players. The Spaniard excelled in this role and might feature in this role in the future whenever Lewandowski is rested.
What do you guys think? Would you like to keep seeing Olmo as a false nine? Let us know in the comments.