Barcelona fell short against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, ending in a 3-3 draw. However, Hansi Flick’s concerns did not end there. Jules KoundĂ©Â was substituted in the 42nd minute for Eric Garcia, as the Frenchman was injured and unable to continue.
Dilemma for the 2nd leg
Hansi Flick now has to decide who replaces Kounde in the second leg at the Giuseppe Meazza. Although the options available are not as good as Kounde himself, I think there is enough quality on the bench to help Barça win. I will analyse all the candidates and determine the best one available.
Ronald Araujo
Araujo has played in this role under Xavi Hernandez, when Jules KoundĂ© was not as much comfortable as a right-back and preferred to play as a centre-back. The Uruguayan has a strong presence and is excellent in 1v1 duels to stop wingers. In the previous season, he was praised by the fans for keeping Vinicius Jr fairly quiet during the El ClĂĄsico fixtures. Araujo can provide Barça with defensive solidity against Inter’s counterattacks and neutralise Dimarco and Mkhitaryan surging forward.
Hector Fort
Hector Fort has received minimal minutes from Hansi Flick, but whenever the youngster has had the chance, he has impressed. An attacking right-back who is versatile and played left-back in the recent game vs Mallorca, and played well as you can see in the video. The youngster can create dangerous combinations with Lamine Yamal upfront to confuse Dimarco and Mkhitaryan. The Inter duo were doubling up on Lamine Yamal in the first leg, and this can serve as a counter-strategy. There is one weakness of Hector Fort, which is his defensive abilities. The youngster is not the most mature when it comes to defending 1v1 situations.
Eric Garcia
Eric Garcia already has a lot of Hansi Flick’s trust, as the Spanish international has played in multiple positions this season. He has been the one filling up as the right-back on the rare occasions when Kounde was on the bench. Good defensive solidity and composure on the ball, Eric Garcia has been a key player off the bench for Barcelona this season. He will be a good option to put a stop to unexpected crosses from Inter from their right flank. Garcia can also help Barcelona in possession and buildup, as the La Masia graduate is good at distributing the ball. Another reason why Flick has played him as a pivot in the midfield is to provide calmness in possession. The Spanish defender put on a very good performance in this position vs Mallorca, as seen in the video
Ronald Araujo is a good option to strengthen the team defensively, but that will sacrifice Barça’s buildup, which I don’t think is worth it. Hector Fort might be a good option despite his shortcomings in defense, However, starting such an inexperienced youngster in such an important match might not be a good idea. In my opinion, Eric Garcia is the ideal candidate to replace Jules KoundĂ©. Garcia will help Barça in the buildup while also providing defensive security on the left flank.