The FC Barcelona has been notably affected in this season by a plague of injuries, what has carried to Xavi Hernández to do 'malabarismos' to present an eleven highly competitive headline with the available players. In this campaign, the trainer of Terrassa has had to employ to at least 10 players in positions in which they do not are used to to play, some like temporary solutions in moments of need and others like tactical bets.
The eleven initial presented in the party of the Friday against the RCD Mallorca (1-0) was a clear sample of all the tactical modifications that the egarense has had to enter in the tactical approach of the picture culé, ranging to players out of his natural position. In front of the combined 'bermellón', Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, Joãor Cancel and Jules Koundé played in different positions to the usual.
The experiments that has done Xavi Hernández in this season
Raphinha, the one who had to abandon the commitment in the minute 37 because of an injury, began like right interior, a position in which it has seen him very few times, but that Xavi tested him this time because of two situations: the absence of Frenkie of Jong and Pedri González, two key players in the centre of the field of the Barça, and the fact that Lamine Yamal has established like the absolute leader in the Barcelona right extreme. Unfortunately, for the technician, the native of Carry Cheerful had little time of game in this new position.
To the equal that the case of the '11', Joãor Cancel had to play once again like left side, a position in which it has had to act because of the absences of Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso. It is necessary to limit that in this square also has tested with the canterano Héctor Fort, in spite of being a natural right side. The absence of the Portuguese has carried to that the right-handed lane, that would have to be occupied by Cancel, was covered by a defender reconverted in right side, as Jules Koundé, because of the fault of a player of hierarchy for this position.
Precisely, the right side has been one of the zones that has presented greater problems to find a player that can cover it of constant way. In addition to the French, the egarense has tested to other players that are not natural of this zone, as Ronald Araújo, the one who sometime had to act like side, and Sergi Roberto, the one who has played like right side in spite of not being his usual position. It fits to stand out that the one of Reus has been one of the most versatile footballers in this season, playing also like mediocentro and inner.
Christensen, one of the solutions 'top' that found the one of Terrassa
Added to this, there are other examples like the one of Frenkie of Jong, the one who has had to alternate between playing like midfield player more advanced, mediocentro and even defender in different moments of the season. Also it is Andreas Christensen, recognised defender, but to the one who the one of Terrassa has trusted him the responsibility to exert in the base of the centre of the field because of the fault of a reliable pivote. The Danish has deployed this function with remarkable effectiveness, to the point that it seems to have adueñado of the position.
Regarding the zone of pivote, another player that has been tested there is İlkay Gündoğan, the one who has experience in this position because of his beginnings in the Borussia Dortmund, but in the last years has played more like offensive midfield player and llegador to the area. Nevertheless, because of the absence of a mediocentro contrasted, has had to return to his origins in several stretches of the parties.
Vitor Roque And his new role like extreme
Finally, in the offensive appearance, also there have been experiments regarding the positions of the players. For example, Vitor Roque, a leading natural centre, has seen reduced his opportunities in this position because of the good moment of form of Robert Lewandowski, and has had to act like left extreme. Equally, Ferran Torres, the one who is used to to play in the sides, has been used in several occasions like leading centre or false nine in this season.