Jana Fernández is having the best season of her senior career. The Barcelona defender has excelled under Pere Romeu and started the UEFA Women’s Champion’s League quarter final game against Wolfsburg. With Ona Batlle injured, Fernández was near flawless against the German giants in Barcelona’s 4-1 win in the Volkswagen Arena.
Luxury of Space
Wolfsburg’s counter attacking style handed Fernández the luxury of space throughout the game.
The German side seemed to fall into a two up top out of possession formation, with Jule Brand the designated left sided midfielder in the game. When Wolfsburg were without possession, she held back off Fernández, allowing the defender space to manipulate how she wanted.
That meant different things depending on the positioning of those around her. It could see the defender pushing forwards down the wing, or making short passes into midfield, usually to Aitana Bonmatí as the right sided midfielder, or to Caroline Graham Hansen if she found herself further up the pitch.
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One moment this was highlighted in the game was at the 57th minute mark. After a throw in from the opposite side of the pitch, Fernández finds herself in acres of space in the middle third. As Barcelona are in possession, Brand is pulling away from the defender in an attempt to increase the players in defence for Wolfsburg. Fernández continues, with the ball, to return to her natural position on the far right of the pitch, advancing forward towards the half way line as she pulls out. That ‘luxury of space’ allows for several more passes to be made, both between herself and Bomantí and Patri Guijarro, before the fully fledged attack is unleashed down the left instead.
Whilst this exact movement doesn’t result in Fernández unleashing an attack on her own, the space she is rewarded with means Barcelona can settle into familiar patterns and routes of attack, choosing careful when and where to hit go.
Even in defensive actions, the space allows Fernández to not be forced into stupid or rash decisions that could lead to giving away unnecessary fouls in her own half. It also means she can easily close down the space when the winger is progressing, and easily time her interceptions or tackles without risk.
Partnership with Bonmatí and Graham Hansen
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Throughout the game, Fernández created signature triangles with Bonmatí and Graham Hansen to develop attacking movements down the right. This isn’t anything unusual, it is, by all means, standard practice for Barcelona.
At points in the game, Fernández would play balls either to Bonmatí or Graham Hansen who had pulled further up the pitch to aid in the development of the attack. She would then ‘replace’ the space that player would usually be in, whether that be further down the wing or pulled into the midfield. This motion would rinse and repeat down into the final third before either of her teammates could advance into the box.
She would find herself in and around the box after advancing from the triangular motions from the two attackers, as well, far from the backline but easily aiding in attack.
But with the three players able to replace one another when the space opens up, it means there is never an unused space in attack down the wing. It also allows for fast, pacey passes that are the signature of Barcelona.
Combined with Graham Hansen’s ambitions to pull inwards into the box, that allowed Fernández to take up the space on the outside of the box, meaning there is another player in attack.
This movement and pattern always served for Barcelona to have an overload of players on the wing.
The numerical advantage saw Barcelona advancing without much in the way of interference or interception, allowing for peace of mind of having a defender so far up the pitch. Of course, Wolfsburg’s inability to keep up with the quick pace of Barcelona plays a part in this advancement but it is also an easy advantage to see them adding players to the attack without much in the way of sacrifice elsewhere on the pitch.
Defensive tracking
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On the rare occasion Barcelona were without the ball (they had 75% of the possession), Fernández’ defensive work and actions limited any attempts at countering down the right flank.
The defender’s pace means she easily closes down wingers, putting in nice interceptions and tackles. Fernández registered two clearances, one interception and one tackle in the game against Wolfsburg. She also won 2/3 of her ground duels.
It is key to point out Wolfsburg offered very little in attack. With Barcelona’s heavy possession and quick play, it was hard for Wolfsburg’s counter attacking, physical style to make its presence felt.
However, when Wolfsburg did manage to counter, Fernández’s quick thinking and even quicker feet were able to manage the threat when needed.
At just the five minute mark, Brand looked to want to start a counterattack when she gained possession after Ewa Pajor was beaten on the ball. Fernández quickly pulled into Brand, and easily put her foot through the ball to stop the attack from sprouting.
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Just six minutes later, Lena Lattwein looked to set Alexandra Popp off in attack down the right wing. With the luxury of space and Fernández’s quick defensive tracking, the defender was able to easily stop Popp’s crossfield ball into to the middle of the park by simply sticking out her leg.
Whilst these actions are uncomplicated and easily demonstrated, it is in them that Fernández is able to demonstrate her defensive mind. Barcelona easily dominate games in attack, but in the simple defensive actions Fernández has shown, she is able to demonstrate an understanding of when and where actions are needed and guaranteed. The easiest way to prevent chances is a usually a simple movement, to cut passages off at the root. Stepping onto the ball or sticking a leg out demonstrates this perfectly and does not overcomplicate the game where it is not needed.
Jana Fernández has eaten, slept and trained the Barcelona way for years, this is not a secret. La Masia graduate and now first team player continues to develop and enhance her skills on the biggest of stages. The trust and confidence presided in her this season has continued to push her game forward and she is hard to ignore as one of the most exciting young defenders in the game.