Flick and Baby Barca get a dose of reality at just the right time

No one said wins would come easy for Hansi Flick and his young Barcelona players.

What made them special throughout the preseason was completely absent on Monday night. No intensity. No fight.

That being said, Monaco had a very different tactical approach than Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.

In this game, this Barcelona team, for the first time, were the favorites. They were playing at home, and although they fielded some young and inexperienced players, namely Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre, and Pau Víctor, they were expected to come out on top. After all, it’s been over a decade since Barcelona last lost their inaugural Joan Gamper match.

In the end, it was naivete that lost them the game. One bad touch from Marc Bernal in front of goal was all it took to sink the ship.

But Hansi Flick has been consistent so far, and you can’t blame him for continuing on with the pivot partnership that has served so well so far.

In this game, they were asked to win the game with the ball at their feet. In modern football there’s nothing more difficult than breaking down a team content to sit back in a low block. It’s hard enough when your best midfielders are on the field.

And this is something that Flick will have to consider going forward.

Lots of teams in La Liga will play this way, so he will need to have a response.

Young players fresh out of the academy will inevitably make mistakes if they are asked to play a game of possession at all times against an opponent who will be more than happy to wait for their mistakes.

Barca has been at their best over the past four games when they are pressing with intensity high up the field. In these situations, the two Marcs thrived as ball winners behind the press.

In this game, the front three of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and even Pau Víctor, looked low on energy and uninterested in doing the leg work. Failures upstream spell doom as the effect is felt on the way down.

First of foremost, the manager needs to make it understood that the lack of defensive effort is unacceptable from the attacking line. Flick has been warning of it even after their recent victories.

Beyond that, questions will be asked if Barca really has the depth it needs to go the distance this season.

Dani Olmo wasn’t dressed for the game. Neither was Fermin Lopez or Pau Cubarsí.

Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo are all injured.

What remained on Monday wasn’t nearly good enough.

Certainly players honestly really do need to go. It’s hard to make a case for Ferran Torres. Others, like Lewandowski and Raphinha, will certainly stay, but they will have a lot to prove.

Of the academy players, for my money, Pau Víctor and Marc Casadó are really the only ones who have earned a first team spot outright. I also would like to see more of Pablo Torre while his midfield companions recover.

Marc Bernal should follow in the footsteps of Casado and be patient. Sergi Domínguez got lots of game time this summer, but honestly, I don’t think he’s nearly ready to take on a first team role. It was disappointing to not see more of Mikayil Faye instead.

Of the fullbacks, Álex Valle is the most exciting, but it’s nice to know that Gerard Martin is so capable if he needs to be called on. But Hector Fort deserves the first crack at the team after the toughness and quality he demonstrated last season.