It starts to smell like blackboard in the Ciutat Esportiva. From the lock on March 13, the facilities were disinfected; then, to the uncertainty about the controls and, finally, to the images of the new normality, with the players arriving at the Barça facilities with a mask and training alone. And this week, already in a group. But right now it’s time to talk about football. LaLiga is in the launch phase and Setién, with all the players available except Umtiti, has to think about his board. Quique has promised nuances in the system after his first lead (from 3-1-4-2 to traditional 4-3-3) and of carefully studying the twelve games he led at Barça. But what is non-negotiable for the Cantabrian is the ball. Hence one of the great novelties in the eleven that Setien thinks has to do with midfield. After his good game at the Bernabéu, Arthur smells like a starter, where he will share the field department with Busquets, Setién’s favorite player; and De Jong, who has arrived in form and is Barça’s strategic commitment. Arthur also wants to focus on the end of the season. He has parked the interest of Juventus and is hammering away with six double weekly sessions between Ciutat Esportiva and his home address as reported by Mundo Deportivo last week.
Possession will be basic in this Barça 2.0 of Setién, which now will not have the excuse of time and will have had everyone in the world to instill its idea in the players. In addition to midfield, the great signing for Setién is Suárez, and not only for his goals, which is also. Obsessed as he is with the quick recovery of the ball, the Uruguayan will give him aggressiveness in the first line of pressure, a job in which Griezmann has also collaborated this course. Then, Setién will have to correct the leaks that are in the Messi plot, balancing the team as necessary.
In defense there may also be news. Lenglet will enter through Umtiti. The former Sevilla player has shown more physical reliability than the former Olympique de Lyon footballer. Umtiti won the match against Lenglet in the matches against Naples and Real Madrid. Setién considers him more competitive for away games and preferred Lenglet for home games, but it is a time when the state of form will be basic and Lenglet is ahead. The other question is on the right side. Semedo should be a favorite, but the Portuguese is involved in market rumors and the Cantabrian could opt for the balance and seriousness of Sergi Roberto. Still, Semedo will play many minutes.
–
–
There will be players who are not indisputable starters but who do have a key role. For example, Arturo Vidal, which can be used to break lines in the second parts. The Chilean is the midfielder with the longest finish in the team and the change in regulations, which allows five changes, will give Setién a lot of play, which will be able to change Sergi Roberto’s position and put him inside if he wants to give energy to the winger with Semedo. And, above all, that he will finally enjoy alternatives up front with Braithwaite and Ansu. Junior, on the left side, will also have its importance. Alba has suffered three serious muscle injuries during the season and will need rest to avoid breaking again. Rakitic, who will want to leave lifting titles after an immaculate career at Barça, will provide a necessary point of tactical balance and experience. For the youth squads (Araujo, Collado, Riqui Puig, Monchu) it will be enough to be vigilant. In this scenario that Setien thinks, it is time for everyone to be on tiptoe. Araujo can download non-quality minutes to Piqué; Collado and Riqui Puig can have a good time and Monchu, a fighter, is a personal bet of Setién. He is not a one-touch player like Busquets but he has a big heart. You have to write them all down.
–
