The recent performances by Hansi Flick’s side have not been able to match the attacking splendour of the first half of the season. The reason is quite simple, Hansi Flick’s style of play requires immense intensity from his players from the 1st minute to the last and they have not been able to maintain it as we enter the 2nd half of the season due to the busy schedule Barca has. The injury crisis has worsened because of this with its most recent victim being Lamine Yamal. Here are positions that need rotation for Barca to regain their earlier form. Joan Laporta needs to assist Flick in the January transfer window to make major signings and increase squad depth.
The long-awaited winger
La Blaugrana have been looking for a winger for a long time now. While Raphinha has been constantly improving and is now arguably the best winger in the world, Ferran Torres has not been up to the mark and has been inconsistent. Lamine Yamal is out and injured for 3-4 weeks and to avoid Raphinha meeting the same fate a winger needs to be signed either from the January transfer market or brought up from La Masia.
An Attacking Midfielder
Pedri is Busy deep in the midfield, dictating the tempo and playing his elegant role as La Pausa. Dani Olmo was in great scoring form earlier in the season but lately looks fatigued and lacks the spark he had. Fermin is a quality substitution but not experienced enough and looks lost for ideas when facing teams with low-block. Barca needs to look at the market for a creative CAM.
Full-backs
With Gerard Martin being still very young and inexperienced Barca needs a defensive left-back to counter pacy wingers when they are caught on the counter, even more so with the space left behind by the high defensive line. I will not doubt Balde and say he needs to be replaced as you cannot judge an attacking left-back when he is left alone on the flank to do everything on his own as Raphinia likes to invert inside to join the attack rather than staying wide and help him overlap and underlap as left-backs are supposed to.
Jules Kounde has played 5,872 minutes so far, more game time than any other footballer in the world this year. He clearly needs to rest and a world-class right back needs to be signed to keep the quality of the right flank maintained with Lamine Yamal once he returns.
