“What are your comments on the change of philosophy you have constructed at Barcelona?”
Tata blinks for a few seconds at the interviewer, before recollecting the words he will state for what must seem like the thousandth time. The former Paraguay coach seems agitated as he splutters out the answer to a question he has heard too often since arriving at the huge club.
“I believe the changes I am making are for the best.”
It is certainly a debate whether or not the changes Tata has made are beneficial for Barcelona, one in which many sentimental fans may opt for the old, strict possession based game. But Martino’s changes has certainly made an emphatic, fresh impact.
Many Barcelona fans noticed the permanent change after the loss of possession to Rayo Vallecano in which Barcelona had less possession than their opponents for the first time in 317 games. The words from Madrid manager Ancelloti was quite unsettling, highlighting the transformation that Barcelona are undergoing.
“It was strange to see Barcelona counter attack.”. Stated the Italian manager who was clearly intrigued by the situation, stating the obvious as Barcelona certainly utilised the counter attacking system to full effect, with a jubilant Pedro netting a hat trick in the 0-4 win. Long balls were often and sometimes unnecessary however, with the centre-backs looking to meet the runs of the wingers runs and often conceding possession in the process. The early games of course from Tata resulted in a very raw system, lots of players filled with new instructions to be tested in the new season. The defensive organisation was particularly inconsistent in the second and third phrase, often letting a man slip unmarked into a free zone allowing possession to be progressed through Barcelona’s midfield at times.
Against Almeria, Barcelona when winning possession down the channels would immediately seek to play vertical, or if the long ball wasn’t on, initiating a counter attack in which the transitioning player would sprint to meet the pass, while the rest of the team would sit deep. This remarkable system would see the majority of the side sit deep and walk forward while the countering player would sprint to the final third, with the aim of scoring with speed and as quickly as possible. If the goal was not possible, then the Barcelona team would catch up with the transitioning player, shifting ever so slowly conserving energy for defensive phases.
As you can see here, Messi receives from defence who has recovered possession and aims to feed Neymar who’s objective is to break forward and score. While he breaks, the entire Barcelona midfield sits deep as well as the entire back four, literally walking slowly up the pitch, as the entire Almeria team would sprint to halt the counter. When the rest of the squad would be correctly positioned for offensive phases, they will have supported the player that has transitioned forward if scoring wasn’t possible and he was forced to play backwards. This would conserve energy very effectively.
However the roles of wingers weren’t of course strictly offensive, as the two wide players had an important pressing role to carry out, initiating the first defensive phase which is often imperative to recovering the ball. The wingers would regularly swap pressing roles with the striker, as they marked full backs when the centre-back was in possession, or pressed the back four entirely. However, a simple press or picking up a player neutralising passing options would not do.
When the striker was extremely fatigued during the latter stages of the game, or in some exceptions against Ajax, in which Fabregas was knackered in the first 30 minutes, the wingers would have an important role and be worked all game. The pressing would have to be carefully implemented by the wingers as the passing lanes were vitally important in relation to cutting out the pass. Too often Neymar’s raw talent and weakness when it comes to defensive duties saw him press prematurely, often causing an entire passing exchange for the opposition to carry out nearly resulting in a goal. In rare occasions. Messi and Neymar were often a risk defensively by playing them out wide, but their influence offensively would always see them walk into the starting eleven.
As you can see, Neymar presses Sidnei far too early, failing to cut out the passing lane to the Espanyol RB who then has a series of options, which almost costs Barcelona a goal. This premature pressing was carried out by almost all of Barcelona’s wingers, and the chances that almost always occurred highlight how important the wingers are to Tata’s defensive system.
The black lines are movements, and the blue lines are passes.
Neymar presses number 6 Sidnei, failing to block the pass to the RB. Number 3 picks out Thievy who manages drifts into a half space untracked by the Barcelona LB. Due to Mascherano tracking Espanyol number 9’s movements, Pique rushes out to press Thievy quickly, however a run from deep occurs from number 4 Sanchez who is fed by a ball from Thievy, almost resulting in a goal.
The implication of this is that Tata has modified his tactics to a more reactive and at times counter-attacking style of play which implements a high press. Central to this are the wingers who need to not only provide quick outlets for long balls from the back, but also press the opposition high up the pitch and work hard defensively.
Thinkfootball.co.uk
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