In just one season in charge,Luis Enrique has made Fc Barcelona treble winners with more wins than Pep Guardiola was able to manage en route achieving a similar feat in 2009.Only a few have noticed the many changes that transformed FCB from a Power-house whose reign seemed to have reached full circle back to one serving a fresh term.Here are 5 of those changes:
1.MODIFYING THE 'TIKITAKA' STYLE.
There is a saying -'Tikitaka is Barcelona and Barcelona is Tikitaka'.The success of this playing model is hinged on possession at all times or at least most of the time.It worked superbly for the 'old' Barca because they paid special attention to the most important detail;recovering possession fast when they lost it.How?.They kept it close.Short passes with more than one option at all times and this ensured the players were able to swarm round an opponent when they lost the ball.
What Barca had working for them in the Pre-Enrique era was the ability to recover possession in the shortest possible time but on the low side,they were very prone to vicious counter-attacks on their off day and were fatigued before the end of most seasons because of the tireless running involved.
Enrique modified the system by making sure they played faster and used longer passes without having to compromise the importance of possession.He instilled the ability to spot an opening and capitalize on it from anywhere without playing 'sexy' all the way to the opponent's box.Effectiveness over Everything was his motto.
At the beginning of the season,they struggled to adapt to the change but when they eventually did,they were unstoppable.Most people didn't tip them for great things till the latter stages of the season because there wasn't too much 'champagne' soccer and lots of goals accompanying their victories like in the typical great Barca season.
2.COUNTER-ATTACKS
This used to be a weak link but the gaffer turned things around.What Barca lost in fast recovery of the ball in observance of the previous Tikitaka model, they made up for by trooping back in numbers and the fastness of their new style of play helped them move the ball swiftly to the three henchmen up front.In ridding it of the old 'attack is the best form of defence mentality' which they came to regret quite often,Enrique paid extra attention to defensive play and devised a most potent counter-attacking system with precision and fastness as its hallmarks.It paid off handsomely.
3.THE IVAN RAKITIC FACTOR
Ivan Rakitic was tailor-made for the midfield Luis Enrique had in mind-an attacking midfielder with a creative edge but not obsessed with possession and too much patience on the ball and one with a good eye for goal.Whats more?.He has the right dose of steel and defends hard when the team doesn't have the ball.Something Xavi lacks or rather isn't innate.
He added more defensively without compromising his attacking responsibilities and you can rightly say he symbolizes Enrique's philosophy which simply put is-Optimum Attack and Defence.
With Iniesta pulling the strings,it was wise to pair him up with someone to assist in doing so and also cover for his defensive frailties to sustain the model.
4.SUAREZ, NEYMAR AND MESSI
The devastating trio accounted for more than 120 of Barca's goals this season.These three make you want to think you can play without midfielders.All you need do is get the ball to the feet of one of them with the other two up front.
I doff my hat to the tactical acumen of Enrique who was able to get the best out of them without necessarily relegating two to the wings like the team was used to.While Neymar was on the right on most days, Suarez was able to cohabit with a Lionel Messi bursting through from behind.Their positional play was at its best and the three kept popping up to bury chances which quite frankly,they created for themselves most times.
5.A STINGIER DEFENCE
Players trooped back to fill spaces when they lost the ball and this ensured less torrid days for the defenders.The full-backs surged forward with a lot more caution than they used to and hardly left the central defenders exposed.
A lot of trust was put in the devastation of the three 'bad' men up front and quite fortunately,they kept opposing defences preoccupied enough to allow for meaningful forays by the two wing backs.
Gerrard Pique improved considerably and he was subjected to less one on one situations where he annoyingly keeps shying away from the attacker going at him.He made less mistakes and this eased the burden on Mascherano who covers for his misgivings whenever they were paired together.
Jeremy Mathieu was a huge blessing.One simply can't quantify how valuable an addition he proved to be.He could slot right into his 'original' left back position when required to do so,is good in the air,kept his composure at all times and is not prone to mistakes.Hardly made one all season.
I celebrate my 17th anniversary as a Barca Fan with a Treble.Like the motto says-Mes Que Une Club.It is more than a club to the blaugrana faithful.#ViscaElBarca
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