Barcelona’s slump in form can only be explained by the team’s fatigue, both in a mental and a sporting sense, and the spotlights thus turn on Hansi Flick.
The manager’s system is immensely demanding from the players’ perspective but provides a lethal advantage when the XI is fresh and committed. The big challenge, however, is ensuring the right rotation to give every player the required rest.
Last night, Ancelotti gave Robert Lewandowski a much-needed break, sticking on the same lines. He played Ferran Torres in the Polish star’s place and the ‘shark’ scored Barcelona’s opener against Mallorca.
The next best-placed replacement, Pau Victor, came on as a late substitute and also racked up one goal and one assist to stake claim on more regular minutes. So, who should Flick’s preferred backup striker be?
Torres: Dynamic but unreliable
Ferran Torres is certainly the more established of the two options at Flick’s disposal and it is thus not a surprise that the manager preferred him to start against Mallorca.
The Spaniard, in fact, did well to get into scoring positions with his runs behind the defence and link-up play with Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal.
Ferran scored against Mallorca. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
However, his first touch often let him down and saw a few chances go begging while other opportunities were scuffed by his poor finishing instinct.
Torres thus provides the manager with an interesting profile. He is a play who can explode to life in spaces and provide dynamic buildup.
The fact remains, however, that he is a winger and not a striker and that his knack to find the back of the net is poor.
Pau Victor: Young, but direct
What Pau Victor offered after coming off the bench was very different from Torres’ profile, and in fact, was far closer to the Robert Lewandowski role Flick required.
Unlike the Spaniard who naturally dropped deeper and looked to contribute in the buildup. Victor offered more directness and attacked spaces in Mallorca’s box.
As a natural number 9 with a good spatial understanding, the youngster found good runs behind the defence and pushed forward to attack the goal whenever possible. Further, he converted all the chances he got, unlike Torres who let them slip away.
So far this season, Victor has averaged a goal every 81 minutes in La Liga – a ratio that is better than Robert Lewandowski’s, who has netted once every 84 minutes in the competition.
Meanwhile, Ferran’s two goals in La Liga have come in 435 minutes, meaning a goal every 218 minutes.
Conclusion
Given both players’ profiles and what they showed last night at Son Moix, Pau Victor would appear to be the better-placed replacement when the manager wishes to rest Robert Lewandowski.
After all, the team requires an out-and-out goalscorer in the Polish star’s absence and the ability to take all the chances created.
Torres, meanwhile, would suit better as a backup winger when the objective is to rotate either Raphinha or Lamine Yamal.