#360view: Barcelona pay for passing obsession

Andy West 02:39 02/11/2016
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  • Will Barca change their ways?

    Probably the biggest talking point in European football so far this season has been whether Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will have to sacrifice his passing principles to enjoy success in England.

    Interestingly, though, exactly the same question also applies at Guardiola’s former club Barcelona, whose summer decision to insert Marc-Andre ter Stegen as first choice goalkeeper, allowing Claudio Bravo to join City, has seen the concept of ‘possession football’ taken to entirely another level.

    The approach is nothing new, of course. For more than a decade, ever since Xavi was given the freedom to run the midfield by then-manager Frank Rijkaard, possession has been the name of Barca’s game.

    Keep the ball, create space with movement, keep the ball, play it sideways if necessary, play it short rather than long, provide passing options, and above all just keep that damn ball… they have always been the chief principles to which Barca have faithfully adhered throughout their recent era of success. So seeing the Blaugrana play out from the back is hardly a new sight.

    But since Ter Stegen came into the team, they have been pursuing that approach with even more determined and uncompromising intent than ever before.

    In just his first appearance of the season, indeed, Ter Stegen set a new La Liga record by completing 51 passes – the highest number achieved by a goalkeeper since records began – in a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.

    And the sight of the German keeper stood stock still with the ball at his feet on the six-yard line, surveying his passing options and daring the opposition to close him down, will become one of the defining images of the season.

    Barca’s near pathological refusal to kick the ball aimlessly long is bold, it is brave, and it can lead to spectacular results when a slick passing move from the back ultimately leads to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar wreaking their merry havoc at the other end.

    But it is also extremely dangerous, and has already proven to be very costly when things go wrong.

    Two of Celta Vigo’s goals during their astonishing 4-3 victory over Barca last month came directly from Ter Stegen conceding possession with errant passes.

    And on Tuesday night, City’s raucous fightback at Etihad Stadium was kick-started by a similar mistake, this time as right-back Sergi Roberto played a poor pass to give Sergio Aguero possession on the edge of the area, resulting in Ilkay Gundogan’s leveller.

    Until that moment, Barca were in complete control and appeared well on the way to handing Guardiola another resounding defeat.

    But goals change games, and the visitors never recovered from the sudden shock of losing their lead, while City were totally transformed by the confidence which arose from Gundogan’s strike.

    If Barca don’t change their style, it will happen again. Their determination to maintain possession at all costs necessitates taking risks and, inevitably, sometimes those risks will fail. When that happens, goals for the opposition will result.

    So the question facing Luis Enrique is the same as the dilemma confronting his old friend Guardiola.

    Should Barca compromise?

    Should they accept that sometimes an aimless punt is the best option?

    They probably won’t, and at times it will allow them to mesmerise and excel. But they are playing with fire, and will often end up
    getting burned.

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