Barcelona find themselves at a crossroads in their UEFA Champions League season ahead of the semi-final second leg clash with Inter Milan.
Manager Hansi Flick, known for his tactical versatility, is working through a difficult injury crisis that has made him rethink his defensive plan.
The loss of key fullback Alejandro Balde due to injury created additional issues for Flick, who learned of the news just days before the critical game at the San Siro, per AS journalist Javier Miguel.
Rather than look for a straight replacement, Flick is also expected to use an unorthodox defensive approach.
Hansi Flick is considering a four-man backline comprised mostly of centre-backs in unconventional positions.
Inigo Martinez, who looked impressive on the left in the second half of the first leg at Montjuic, is the leading contender to take Balde’s role; and, Eric Garcia who is a central defender, expected to continue as the right-back, even as he adapts to Flick’s system to accommodate Jules Kounde’s absence.
Central to the defence are Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi and while Andreas Christensen still has a seat at the table after an impressive outing at Real Valladolid, Flick showed he wasn’t entirely committed to the status quo with Araujo alongside Cubarsi in that particular La Liga match.
Of note, Gerard Martin played the full match against Real Valladolid, suggesting the coach was open to pushing unorthodox candidates into unconventional places.
Even a makeshift backline suggests Flick’s pragmatism in the face of Barcelona’s injuries.
Flick is banking on Araujo and Cubarsi, with fortune, would quieten Inter’s dangerous wide attackers.
As Barcelona prepares for a season defining Champions League encounter, Flick’s courage could challenge the importance of his players’ directly experience.
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