Why DEPTH makes Barcelona so DANGEROUS in LALIGA 📈 | Futbol Americas
How squad depth makes Barcelona so dangerous in La Liga
The video discusses Barcelona's squad depth and Hansi Flick's system, arguing that this depth makes them especially dangerous in the La Liga title race. It also covers Gabriel Jesus and Anthony Gordon's roles, plus concerns about the defense and the Champions League ceiling.
- Gabriel Jesus fitting in at Barcelona is not just about goals; he also has to press and be part of the hunting pack — He has already scored, but Barcelona's striker role requires movement, pressing, and swarming opponents.
- Barcelona's squad depth makes them the most dangerous team in La Liga — Their core players did not start and they still won; Flick's system helps players perform at a higher level.
- Gabriel Jesus's Barcelona form is mainly down to Flick's system, not a sudden transformation into a game changer — He was Arsenal's fourth-choice, often injured forward; the system creates chances and gives him confidence.
- Depth and versatility are key for Barcelona in a La Liga title race — Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Dani Olmo and others can play multiple positions, letting Flick adjust to team needs and opponents.
- Deco saw something in Anthony Gordon, and Gordon's intensity and versatility make Flick happy to start him in big games — He has pace, quality, hunger, can play left, right or false nine, and contributes to the high press.
- La Liga is already Barcelona's to lose, but the Champions League still raises the question of a final missing piece — Barcelona's squad advantage in La Liga is clear; the question is whether they still lack a key piece in Europe.
- Barcelona do not rely on a player like Gordon as the final piece; they turn good players into key players — Examples like Marcus Rashford show Barcelona can restore confidence and put players in positions to succeed.
- Barcelona's real missing pieces for the Champions League are Lamine and Raphinha performing there, not players like Gordon or Gabriel Jesus — The team's existing core players must deliver consistently at the highest level for Barcelona to be a true UCL contender.
- Barcelona's defense is probably their weakest point — Their high line and offside trap leave them vulnerable, they still miss a partner like Inigo Martinez in central defense, and they lack standout athleticism at the back; another guest adds they loaned out a physical player.
Futbol Americas highlights Barcelona's depth as the club is off to a perfect 8-0 start in LALIGA. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC
Transcript
When Gabriel Jesus signed for Barcelona, there were some doubts, some hesitations. This is maybe not what Barca needed. This is not Julian Alvarez. This is not a player like Robert Leandowski, but he scored three times already. But what else has he done to fit in this club? Uh to understand where where he is, to understand the the style of play that is required for a Barcelona striker, it's not only about scoring goals. It's also about about pressing about being part of that hunting pack and and this is Gabrielle Jesus right there in the middle against a five at the back with Kafe. A lot of mobility as well. So the especially in this game what Hansil was trying is to move Anthony Gordon into inner areas. Look at this movement. So he's moving away from the central areas to create space not only for Rodri but also for Anthony Gordon to try to link up in that in that box. But look at this. Look at the reaction. What when I say that they hand packs I'm not joking. There's six players surrounding the Kafe player. Look where one of the center backs Eric Garcia was trying to anticipate that pass. So Barcelona immediately win the ball back again and Gabriel Jesus stays wide on the left and this is another turnover. Look at Danny almost reaction. He will trigger not only Anthony Gordon but also Gabrielle Jesus and the rest of his teammates and they're going to set up a trap for Ketaf's defender. He thinks that he got away with this. But here comes Gabrielle Jesus from that wide position. steals the ball and afterwards a lot of movement of the ball by Danny Elmo and Anthony Gordon to not bother his teammate and let him finish with this composure. So if I tell you her that Puarci, Pedri, Rafina, the core with Rodri, but the core of this club did not start this game and Barca still won. As Anthony Gordon said, not easy, but you know, without having to worry too much. Is that depth of the squad that makes this team the most dangerous >> in La Liga? Absolutely. and and Hanzi Flick system has converted a player who was a winger into the world's best nine today. Hanzi Flick's Barcelona system has converted Arsenal's fourth choice center forward, often injured center forward into a goal scorer for Barcelon Barcelona today. It's Hansi Flick. That's the equivalent here. That's the answer here. Listen, Gabri Jesus was a fantastic player in his time, but you're not going to convince me that the player who was fourth choice at Arsenal to Yokarees to to Kai Havtz to Mourinho and couldn't get on the field for back-to-back games because he was always injured now all of a sudden a game changer. You said they hunt in packs. This is what they do. His system provokes these type of plays. His system will grant you the confidence to be in front of goal. All you got to do is take advantage of it. Cab Jesus has been taking advantage of it. It starts and ends with Hanzi Flick here, >> but that depth that that is the key for for Barcelona, especially in a in a league title where where you need to be the most consistent uh team. He's got plenty of options. Eric Garcia can play anywhere on the back line. He has played in the four positions. He can also play as a holding midfielder. We can say the same about Andreas Christensen, Jo Canelo. He's playing with Chavas Spart who is a right footed midfielder as a left backed and and and the team the team playing Gerard Martinez a left back and then now he's playing as a center back. Danny Elmo can play anywhere on the pitch as a central midfielder as a number 10 can play as a number nine as well can play on the left. And that ability to move the players not only following the needs of the team but also following what kind of opponent you're facing that is key. And this is Hansif. I I totally agree with you her. Now talk to me about Anthony Gordon. And here's why. Because it was very clear that Deco saw something in Anthony Gordon. That was I mean the moment the transfer window opened, Barca was like, "All right, we got Anthony Gordon." And they high fee for him. So clearly Deco saw something special in Anthony Gordo. We knew from his time at Newcastle United, also with the English national team, he he can play in different spots of the field as well. But what about his intensity? What has he brought to the table that makes Hansifle very happy to start him in important games? >> He's got it all. He's got the pace, he's got the quality, and he's got the hunger just to to compete and to win titles. He can play He's very versatile. He can play on the left, on the right. That's a false number nine. But look, this is the the first six games under Hansen Flick at Barcelona for for Anthony Gordon playing very wide with usually when when uh Chavius part who's right footed and and a midfielder or even Joel Canel who's not even left footed either. Um >> he needs to stay wide in order to give Barcelona width and and depth on the left hand side. But look at this heat map against Kafe. Hansley had different plans since uh Gabrielle Jud was playing instead of Rafina and that lack of mobility. He wanted Anthony Gordon to play in [music] more central areas to link up with Danny Omo in tight spaces against the 541 that Hafe were were using and [music] also to find one of his other qualities uh long distance shots. Now Herk this is a player that can score. This is a player that can assist and this is a player that can go wide, can go central, can defend as well. Gives you a high pressure rate. Was this the missing piece for Barcelona to compete? Because you said La Liga, yes, it's clearly Barcelona's to lose, but at the European level, was this the missing piece for Barcelona? I don't know if the missing piece, but Barcelona makes missing pieces out of players. Last season, Marcus Rashford comes off the bench. No, I think he started this game against uh Newcastle and scores a brace against Newcastle, Anthony Gordon's X team. They they make players out of good players. They bring back players and make them confident. I don't know if it was always in the plan. You mentioned Deco and his fines. Um Anthony Gordon shows up in his presser speaking full Spanish, [laughter] surprising everybody. It almost seemed like it was always in the works. Before he was part of Barcelona, >> he he credited uh the team's physio. >> Exactly. Before he was with Barcelona, he would credit La Liga and and what they would do when he was with Newcastle saying it almost looks like in the Premier League they're playing a different kind of sport and elsewhere they're actually playing football. If you listen to him to Anthony Gordon, the way he speaks to the press, even when he's in England, he speaks with a sense of I've not been appreciated for the footballer I am here in England. I am a footballer that yes, I can run. Yes, I am an engine and I have physical traits, but I have IQ and that final third product to go with it. And now we're seeing it being put together with a team that thrives in putting players in those positions. Is he the missing piece? I I think the missing pieces um when it comes to the Champions League aren't going to be the guys, and I say this respectfully, like a Gordon, like an Adi, like a Gabriel, Jesus. It's going to be a Laminal finally putting together in the Champions League. It's going to be a Rafa in the Champions League, continuing that stellar play. That's going to be the missing piece to see them be a true contender in the Champions League. >> As a former defender, I would like to bring up the the backline. This is this is probably the the weakest point of Barcelona. Not only because they're very vulnerable the way they play and with their high line and trying to constantly use the offside trap, but the central area. >> Yes, >> they are still missing Inigo Martinez as as Paul's uh partner in the middle of of the defense. You know what's just I still can't get over is usually you play that type of back line, that high line, you have to be somewhat athletic in the back. I look at Barcelona, especially in the back, defensive midfielders, the back line, there's nobody who I say, wow, blown away with the physical traits, yet you're not running by these. >> They had a physical player and and they loan him out. Yeah.