Pau Cubarsi, a defender for FC Barcelona, told RAC1, a well-known Catalan media site, that one of the primary factors contributing to the first team’s early success under Hansi Flick.
The German manager, who recently gave Barcelona a six-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and led the team to a 4-1 thumping of his former employer and current “bogeyman” Bayern Munich in the Champions League, has Barca riding high right now.
Flick’s ingenious offside trap was especially successful in the Bernabeu on Saturday as Barca crushed Los Blancos 0–4 in El Clasico, even if the specially crafted plan was crucial to both decisive victories.
A startling 12 times in all, Barca caught Madrid offside, with Kylian Mbappe being the victim on eight of those instances and losing at least two goals in the result.
The strategy behind a crucial aspect of Barcelona’s game that has prevented its opponents from making 11 appearances on the scoresheet overall was disclosed by Cubarsi to RAC1.
“Tactically we train the defensive line but above all, it is a matter of communication, that the four of us have communication and combine well,” revealed Cubarsi.
Cubarsi went on to say, “If one comes out, the others accompany the line,” acknowledging that this strategy must seem extremely dangerous to the onlooker.
“I think ‘Ugh, a ball behind us here can hurt us’ when I look at it from the outside. On the field, however, you have faith in your teammates and the line. They will be offside if we all go together.
“A center-back, who is farther away, is not in the same situation as a midfielder. We also check to see if the ball is pressed. It is simpler to advance when there is pressure since it is more difficult to take it from behind,” Cubarsi added.
Cubarsi and his defensive partner Inigo Martinez are probably guaranteed to start against Espanyol on Sunday in Montjuic.
As Barca begins a hectic 12-day schedule with three La Liga and Champions League games before the next international break, they may need to use the trap once more. Flick may also need to make rotations.
