The Barça of Flick passed the first big test of the season with an indisputable success in Girona, both on the scoreboard (1-4) and on the pitch, with a brilliant display of fast, precise, vertical and effective football.
The best news, however, was that it seems that the Taliban (those of the DNA, of the untouchable model of 30 years ago) are retreating. Their stale discourse has no further effect, even if they had previously managed to undermine the work of Tata Martino (to which Mateu Lahoz stole the League from him), Luis Enrique (two Leagues, three Cups and the last Champions League), Valverde (who in two leagues were 36 points ahead of Real Madrid), etc. The Taliban, they said, were bored with them. Maybe it was because they won so many titles (14 in 6 seasons), compared to three in the last five.
To put it bluntly, Flick has retired the painful burden of the 4-3-3 with a modern 4-2-3-1 that brings out the best in its players. Let’s give an example comparing the 4-2 of last season with the 1-4 of this season, in Montilivi.
Although Barça’s possession was superior on the day of the 4-2 (60% to 55%) and they made 111 more passes (from 585 to 475), they shot more on goal (20 to 16) and on target (9 to 7). In total, less possession and passes, but more effectiveness. In addition, they only committed 4 fouls (2 yellows and 1 red, so they can talk about it later), compared to 14 for Girona (3 yellows) to bury the 4-2 with the 1-4.
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Let’s see if, for the good of Barça, they leave him alone Hansi Flick those specialists in poisoning the environment, even if, curiously, they have never acted during the mandates of Laporta.
