A first loss of the season had to come at some point but the manner of the humbling at Osasuna could easily have been avoided.
Notwithstanding that one can sympathise with why Hansi Flick rotated his starting XI, multiple changes virtually handed the win to the team from Pamplona.
On another night, if Barca’s second half chances had gone in, the Blaugranes could even have walked away with all three points, but frankly they wouldn’t have deserved it.
Flick’s tactical nous was on show throughout the game, and his switches certainly affected things. Over the course of the season under this manager, Barca will undoubtedly win more than they lose.
But he cannot escape criticism for leaving the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Marc Casado and Inigo Martinez on the bench. One, or maybe two at a push, but not all four.
Ferran Torres was incredibly lucky he didn’t get hooked at the break after another incredibly disappointing 45, with there being no real attacking outlet to speak of.
Playing a high line against a team with the lightning-fast Bryan Zaragoza in situ was also another error of judgement from Flick.
He doesn’t get a free pass either just because he’d won seven on the bounce previously, because these are precisely the types of matches where you win titles.
Yes, it’s too early in the season to talk about that just now, but a lesson will have to have been learned already.
What the rotations also highlighted was a lack of depth from the bench.
It’s not an excuse of course, because the XI out there at El Sadar were perfectly capable of earning three points, but to have the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Ronald Araujo back would be of clear and obvious benefit.
Now, nothing less than a commanding performance and win against Young Boys in the Champions League will do, followed by three more points against Alaves so Barca can go into the international break still top of the tree.
If culers had been given that precise scenario when Flick had arrived, they would’ve bitten your hand off, so one bad result does not a bad season make.
The coach has built up enough credit to this point, but no more mass tweaking please, thank you.
With a month to go until El Clasico, injured players will hopefully return and Flick will continue on the path he was on before he arrived in Pamplona.
Share this content: