There are different kinds of defeats. There are offensive and devastating ones. There are dignified ones – Russian clubs have recruited many of them in recent years playing in European competitions. And there are useful defeats. And this is exactly what happened to Barcelona in Monaco.
After five consecutive victories in La Liga, the slogans have already started to sound: Barça is back! Those who were too hasty even ended the championship race: they say that while Real and Atlético are facing their newcomers and stagnating, Hansi Flick’s team will do such a preliminary job that no one will be able to catch up. Barcelona started the season so well that all their problems seemed to suddenly dissolve. Flick quickly brought the cules back – no, not in 2007. He brought back a sense of power and dominance on the football pitch that Barça had not provided for a long time.
The defeat against Monaco is useful because it brings both the team and the fans back down to earth. Although in reality Barça’s performance in this match is difficult to assess. Yes, there were many chances to score and Ter Stegen had to miss more than two. But the Catalans played in a minority from the 10th minute, after Ter Stegen himself replaced Eric Garcia due to a red card. If the teams had played the same, it would have been easier to evaluate Barça. But it happened as it did.
Eric Garcia sent off in the match against Monaco
Photo: Neal Simpson/Getty Images
In any case, Monaco became the first team to really force Barcelona to go on the defensive. And it all started literally from the first minute, even before Garcia was sent off. And then it became clear that, for example, Barça’s midfield was too easy. Yes, there was no Olmo. Yes, Eric Garcia, who played in the centre, is not a midfielder in his main profile. But this does not change the fact that Monaco simply did not notice Barcelona’s centre. The Catalans did not know how to defend through possession, when they simply did not give the ball to the opponent. And the “classic” – positional and power, with fighting – Barça’s defence did not work either.
Monaco would certainly not have been so comfortable if Garcia had not been sent off. However, there is a suspicion that even with Eric on the pitch Barcelona would have struggled. The teaser for the first 10 minutes says exactly this.
How it was:
The main sensation of the 1st day of the Champions League! Monaco and Golovin punished Barcelona! Video
In addition, one cannot fail to mention Barça’s personal hell, which became blurred due to success at the beginning, but did not really disappear. There are enough options for the position of attacking midfielder in the center: Olmo, Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez. I tried Flick and Rafinha there and it turned out quite well. But there are practically no people in lower positions in the center. That’s why the inexperienced Mark Casado plays. That’s why nominal central defender Eric Garcia plays as a defensive player.
Barcelona’s feints with Gundogan’s expulsion, Sergi Roberto’s non-renewal, Christensen’s retirement and the lack of signings for the “six/eight” position will surely come back to bite us more than once. Yes, the Club was counting on Mark Bernal and it’s a shame that a talented guy fell apart so quickly and for so long. But still, a club with big ambitions – and Barça still considers itself one of them – cannot rely so much on a 17-year-old player who has not played in the first team before this season.
Marcos Bernal
Photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Flick got off to such a good start that it masked the fat “jambs” of the Barcelona management. One might even get the feeling that things are not actually that bad for the club. But this sometimes happened with Xavi. And invariably slogans began to sound that Barça was back. Now I am definitely back! And she really did return every time. Just not to the heights where the fans want to see her. And to the pit, from where the cries of returning to the top were heard. To the pit where the club has been sitting for the last few years and from where various limbs periodically extend, like Uma Thurman in the second part of Kill Bill.
Flick’s team is charming, but very crude. To be successful over a long distance, it needs reinforcement. And she still has a lot to learn. Barcelona learned an important lesson in Monaco. It was shown to them that not everything will be easy. With light legs and courage, when you can run forward without looking back, you will not get very far. This is how you can beat Valladolid and Girona (this season’s example, not last year), but in important matches you do not achieve success this way. Over a distance, exactly.
More on Flick’s new Barça:
Flick is making a powerful change for Barcelona. The team has already acquired completely new characteristics.
The match against Monaco is only the first round of the Champions League, there is no need to overestimate it. Barça will surely earn its points and make it to the playoffs. It is not known from which place, but it will get out, there is no doubt about that. Still, the match against Monaco is a preview of the big matches that Barcelona will have ahead. And by visiting Golovin’s team, the Catalans received a very important and useful punch in the nose.
Monaco calmed Barcelona down after five early wins and gave them back the sense of danger. You can’t let this feeling dominate, but you can’t drown it out either. Their presence keeps you on your toes all the time and doesn’t let you relax. It’s very important for Barcelona’s future success to maintain this feeling.
