A detailed analysis of how Ernesto Valverde transformed Barcelona

Redefining the Defense

Barcelona v Espanyol - Spanish Copa del Rey

After getting smashed by 5-1 of the hands of their arch-rivals in UEFA Super Cup, it was clear that Barcelona's defense was leaking the goals more than their standards. Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto offer plenty of width as attacking full-backs while in possession, giving license to Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, and Lionel Messi to drop-in wherever necessary. The combinational play between the players that occupy the wider areas and their support to fullbacks is vital to allow Barcelona to overload at the flanks against stretched opposition defenses.

Sergio Busquets drops deep to collect the ball from Ter Stegen and Barca’s centre-backs split to allow their full-backs to push on and take up an advanced starting position if possible. Defensively, Valverde likes for his bank of four defenders to retreat into position, with the midfield then plugging the gaps ahead in their own bank of four. If certain midfielders are caught a little out of position when possession turned over, they can fill in as they see fit.

In terms of pressing defensively against teams that are comfortable in possession, Barcelona tries to press high and go forward. Luis Suarez shows that pressing isn’t always the key intention for Valverde’s forwards because sometimes he drops back. The most important change that Valverde made to defense is that when they lose possession, every player (except Suarez) drops back to defend as a unit.