Barcelona’s defensive chaos: Who deserves a starting spot and who must be benched?

At the beginning of the season, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick found himself facing a challenging situation in terms of his central defensive options.

With key players such as Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen sidelined due to injuries, Flick had to rely on Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi as his primary centre-back pairing.

This left Barcelona’s defensive setup looking uncertain, and the team had to adapt to these limitations as best as possible.

However, the situation is now looking brighter. The team has received some much-needed positive news regarding the recovery of its injured defenders.

Araujo was given medical clearance just in time for Barcelona’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. In addition, Christensen has started to integrate back into training, participating in some sessions with the rest of the group.

With the return of Araujo and Christensen, Flick now has a stronger, more flexible defensive line to work with.

Up until now, he had been relying on a consistent backline of Jules Kounde (playing right-back), Cubarsi, Martinez (as centre-backs), and Alejandro Balde (on the left).

Although the full-back positions had depth with options like Hector Fort and Gerard Martin, the centre-back positions were thin, making it difficult to rotate or rest players effectively.

More problems than solutions

Now that Araujo and Christensen are returning, the defensive line can be more balanced, and Flick will have the opportunity to manage his players’ fitness better.

This added depth, however, creates its own set of challenges. One of the main issues Flick will face is how to incorporate Araujo and Christensen into the team without disrupting the balance that Cubarsi and Martinez have established over the last few months.

The two players have developed a strong tactical understanding during their time together, and it may take time for Araujo and Christensen to adjust to this new system.

In addition to this, there is the challenge of adapting to the specific defensive tactics that Flick has implemented. One of the key aspects of Flick’s defensive approach is playing an advanced defensive line, often flirting with offside traps.

This strategy has been quite effective in catching opponents off guard and forcing them into offside positions. The current defenders have internalized this approach, making it second nature for them.

However, it is a high-risk strategy, and it remains to be seen how Araujo and Christensen will adapt to this particular style of play. Their ability to quickly integrate into this defensive tactic will be crucial to their success in Barcelona’s system.

Then there is Eric Garcia

Another player in contention for a defensive role is Eric Garcia, although his involvement has been limited so far this season. With just 457 minutes of playing time under his belt, Garcia has mostly been seen as a pivot rather than as a central defender.

His role in the team has been more peripheral, and it’s unclear how much he will feature as the competition for starting spots intensifies.

With Araujo and Christensen back in the fold, Flick is faced with a difficult decision about who will start in the central defensive positions. The return of these two defenders provides options, but it also brings a level of uncertainty.

While both defenders are established players with significant experience, Flick is known for prioritizing performance over past status.

This means Araujo and Christensen will need to prove themselves in training and match situations to earn their starting roles as it is clear that Flick will not automatically reinstate them as starters simply because of their previous standing in the team.