The FC Barcelona fit this Saturday the first defeat of the era Quique Setién in a duel to forget against Valencia. After the triumphs in front of Granada and Ibiza, the doubts went back to surround to the Catalans, that were very far of his best version and saw clearly surpassed by an opponent of maximum level. In spite of the resistance of Ter Stegen, the doublet of Maxi Gómez was definite for a trip in LaLiga.
The 'prick' in Mestalla leaves several conclusions for the culés, that went back to drown in the dangerous defensive lagoons. The 'che' achieved to approach to the area of the cancerbero germano with too much ease, and in hardly a pair of passes obtained good positions of shot that finish being decisive. Of at all it served the effort of footballer of Mönchengladbach, that even stopped him a penalti to the Uruguayan.
But the retaguardia is not the only worrisome headache, since since it fell Luis Suárez, the attack is totally blocked. The usual strategy of 'balloons to Leo Messi' no longer is sufficient, because the one of Rosario has lost to the partner that opened all the doors of the rival walls. Without a tip that fix central, the medullary and the forward lack depth, and complicate in a flat game and redundante in passes that leaves to live too calm to the opponents, more freed to think in contras and offensive strategies.
The preparador Cantabrian has arrived loaded of good intentions and has recovered the football of possession, but with this does not suffice if this command no conjoint with an incisive character that the one of Jump carried achieve to the infirmary. The Griezmann, Ansu Fati or Carles Pérez do not insist the same that the '9', and do not have neither the physical capacity neither the qualities for incomodar constantly to the defenders, that can advance metres and concentrate in containing to the '10'.
It is thus that touches to look for urgent solutions, and the cracks have to take a step forward while the trainer bets by adjust that they give back the spark to a turned off Barcelona group. Today more than ever it needs the best possible performance of youngsters, veterans and stars in general, because the fight by the titles no for and the phase of adaptation (so much míster-players like players-míster) has to complete on the fly and what before.
A possible way for Setién is to avoid some of the errors that condemned to Ernesto Valverde, that died with his ideas in spite of that no always went effective. To the extremeño accused him of 'shut' to Antoine Griezmann in the left band, subtracting him influence and complicating his lace in the system. The one of Santander has kept this place and also has carried to Ansu Fati to a right side where the canterano has braked completely. It does not treat that both are made a mistake, but that it is necessary to test alternatives to see if it arrives the tarpaulin.
The signings could help, but with conditions
In these circumstances, the Barça is looking for answers in the market, but no all are valid. One of the names that more has sounded is the one of Rodrigo Moreno, and although the Hispanic-Brazilian is an excellent forward, is not a nine specialist. It could contribute his virtues and be one more in the challenges that are for coming, but it would be necessary to see if it is the key to resolve the jam that is overwhelming to the Catalans.