Barcelona have struggled in defense for a while now – not only the construction and behavior of the backline itself but the system, something very worrying for a side that looks to be at the top in all competitions year after year.
Since Josep Guardiola departed the Catalan side, the functional mistakes have been spotted but they are lacking a true and concise solution to finally sort out the weak link in their star-studded team.
Lately recurring to natural central-holding midfielder Javier Mascherano, inexperienced Marc Bartra and even more bizarrely, left back Adriano to take the spot in the spine of the defense alongside a declining, performance-wise, Gerard Pique.
Oh, how Barcelona is missing Puyi. Carles Puyol, former Catalan captain and now a retired player, had the leadership, character and solid attitude to command a defense in such high regard.
Without being too tall, too quick or too skilled, he fought for every ball until the very last minute of the game defending the blaugrana jersey with pride. Winning it all with both club and country – including the UEFA European Championship, FIFA World Cup, six league titles and three Champions Leagues, he was as fundamental as a player can be.
This aspect is evidenced in how both defensive systems have declined with him no longer in the team. After a career full of injuries – up to 36, mostly knee related, he decided it was time to give his damaged body a rest. And so he did.
Battling to avoid picking up such recurrent and serious injuries was no easy task and I’m sure not one person can reproach about lack of respect, compromise or good performances in his time there.
Finally it seems the board have taken into consideration the bigger picture and have strengthened the defence, due to the aforementioned situation and the refusal of Luis Enrique, to play Mascherano out of position.
Jérémy Mathieu, the 30-year-old Frenchman, has been the answer they've come up with. He left Valencia to arrive at the Catalan side, with both institutions agreeing a deal believed to be around €20 million, after a positive 5-year-spell at the club.
Receiving slaughtering and mocking from all sides – including cules themselves, he is thought not to be good enough to feature for the Spanish giants, even less so at the inflated price they paid for him.
While it’s true the price is somewhat high, the selling club (In this case Valencia) often takes advantage of the need of their counterpart and the market is working in a much more elevated region than before – this is due to the huge transactions we see from big clubs every transfer window, paying huge amounts to get their man.
Mathieu is part of an idea as to how Barcelona will approach their game in the seasons to come. Luis Enrique will try to wind back time to where Barcelona destroyed every side in their way at the hands of the genius Pep Guardiola.
For that system to work again there are still missing pieces, but one of the most important is already secured in Mathieu, taking over a similar role as to what Abidal had in that supreme side. If one side wants to give freedom to their forwards, they have to be sure they are fairly safe at the back.
That is exactly why a back three was often seen fielded at the time. Abidal – nominally seen as the left back and getting into that role from time to time, was really a LCB in a defensive line that had Puyol as stopper and Pique on the right, allowing RB/RWB Alves to bomb forward and help construct the play, creating danger higher up the pitch.
His composure, tackling skills, positioning and ball playing abilities to start the attack, alongside the capacity of playing both roles to a superb yet silent display was key for Guardiola’s team to succeed. Mathieu, fitting that exact profile, was a much needed acquisition if Lucho really has aims to relive those glorious days, at least at a tactical level.
Zubizarreta, Barça’s director of sports, was even quoted saying that “Mathieu gives plenty of tactical options. He can well play in a defensive line of three players.”
If both board and coach have strong communication links, then they will share the same vision and subsequently be on the same page, this being one of the main differences to recent campaigns.
It is needed to take into consideration that, with Mathieu being on a possession based-team like Barcelona he will have a lot less defensive work than he had back in the heart of the defense in Valencia and consequently will make less defensive errors. Risks are expected and understood when you are giving a contract to a 30 year old player, at that age some start declining and aren’t able to cope with the injuries that are presented throughout the season. Despite that subject, the Jérémy deal however can only benefit both parties if, and this is a big if, the rest of the system is constructed properly.
His defending partners will be instrumental too – Pique regaining form and the pick-up of a strong performer in the stopper spot at the least will make life a lot easier for him.
Rumours had been doing the rounds again about Barça making a move for PSG’s Marquinhos for at least €40 million, as well as for Liverpool’s Agger or one of the Belgian duo Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen. After much indecision and negotiation, a deal was reached for the latter, whose presence will only mean a big upgrade for what the blaugranas have in their ranks despite the questioned amount of €19 million.
Barcelona look set to be back on track in defensive terms for the season ahead and hopefully for the fans it stays on the right track for the remainder of the way, returning them back to glory they are so used to.