Although Barcelona succumbed to an energetic Villarreal side on Sunday evening, it wasn’t for the want of trying.
In Fermin Lopez’s case, he could scarcely have done much more to ensure that the points remained in Catalonia, such was the manner of his individual performance.
For all of the plaudits going to the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, to name two players, the XI will always need a workhorse like Fermin to get stuck in and move attacks forward with purpose.
Cut from the same cloth as Gavi, the 22-year-old supplements his penchant for the grittier side of the game with a real eye for goal, and he could’ve scored at least one other before eventually getting his name on the score sheet.
FC Barcelona v Villarreal CF - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
Rumours continue to swirl that Manchester City want to acquire Dani Olmo this summer, and with Fermin’s continued emergence in that hybrid type of midfield/forward role, it could make Olmo’s stay at the club much shorter than first envisioned.
Hansi Flick will need to make the call on that particular set of circumstances of course, though there is a cogent argument that whilst Olmo has a better skillset, it’s Fermin who applies himself better in this team.
Were both players to continue to be ‘bit part’ - either coming off early in games or starting as subs rather than getting a good run at playing 90 minutes consecutively in order to build up a rhythm - it may well be that one or other helps to make Flick’s decision for him.
Hardly an ideal situation, but neither could be blamed for taking such a position.
Fc Barcelona V Villarreal Cf - La Liga Ea Sports Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images
Therefore, when the dust settles on the season and the German and his backroom staff can take stock of what a brilliant campaign it’s been, some tough decisions are going to have to be made.
The popular vote would surely see to it that Fermin will retain his status in the squad, but Flick has never worked on sentiment alone.
He will have to evaluate whether he wants a dogged and determined player whose late runs into the box cause havoc, and who has an engine that sees him get up and down the pitch as good as anyone, or a player that seems to find space where there is none and whose silky touch is often unmatched by any of his contemporaries.
Decisions, decisions...