Hansi Flick’s team has struggled significantly with defensive transitions in recent matches, losing some of their essence. We analyzed with former Barcelona player and coach Lluís Carreras why the Blaugrana squad is breaking down so easily.
In the last games against Atlético Madrid and Girona, concerning issues appeared in Barcelona’s play: poorly executed pressing, deficient defensive recovery, lack of intensity, and positional lapses especially on the flanks. These factors combined have caused the team to show cracks and a small loss of identity. The risky and aggressive style of the German coach falters if players are not fully focused.
Flick gave his players two days off to rest and reflect on the situation, followed by a group therapy session where the importance of returning to what worked last season was highlighted.
The biggest headache is defensive transitions. Barcelona is being dismantled too easily — within four or five passes, with a high defensive line that suffers greatly and is highly exposed.
If pressure isn’t applied well from the front, everything falls apart. If the midfield doesn’t recover properly and fails to occupy spaces, opponents strike easily and consistently find unmarked players in finishing areas.
Lluís Carreras points out that the current midfield trio—Frenkie, Fermín, and Olmo—is not built to control matches through positional pressure after losing possession. This lack of positional governance makes it difficult to prevent counterattacks, and Frenkie’s positional weaknesses exacerbate the issue. Carreras thinks other players like Bernal, Casadó, or Tommy Marqués would better understand these concepts.
Carreras adds that the current midfield setup suits teams at a lower level but struggles against high-intensity sides like Atlético or a proactive Girona. He believes coach Flick should have chosen a more positional and controlling midfield combination to handle the demands of modern football.
