Just a few days to close the transfer market, Bayern Munich kept an eye on the Second Division and, more specifically, at Espanyol. He did not do it to take RDT or Embarba, now a fashionable couple in the silver category, but to bet on the talent of Marc Roca. The operation is around 15 million euros, between fixed and variable amounts, something that deeply relieved the parakeet club and that translated into a confidence blow from the European champion on the charismatic Spanish midfielder. But nevertheless, almost two months later, expectations have not been met and, in fact, they do not reveal a good future for the midfielder.
Until the Champions League match, Marc Roca had been a substitute in all five Bundesliga games. Despite the fact that the German tournament allows five changes and his team is used to taking games with ease, Flick had only given him one chance. To call him in some way, since the former Espanyol played a minute against the Suburb. At least, he did enter the first round of the Cup, against Duren. He started and had a good performance. Same line in the highest continental competition. He did not step on the grass or against Atlético, neither against Salzburg in the third date nor against Lokomotiv Moscow. Not even when theirs won 4-0 with Simeone as their adversary or beat the Austrians 2-6.
Of course, The midfielder's first months in Munich are not sportingly what I expected. However, it seemed clear that entering the eleven was only a matter of time. So it was. On matchday four, with Bayern on track with qualifying and Allianz as a witness, Flick gave him the opportunity to start. The 'experiment' did not go as the technician expected. At 66 minutes into the match, he made a strong tackle to avoid an exit to the rival's counterattack and was booked. Twenty minutes before, he had already seen a yellow one, so he was sent off. Fortunately for their team, they were already commanding calmly on the scoreboard and their red card did not mean a debacle for the team.
Even so, played a good game until the moment of being sent off. When the rival pressed, knew how to calm down in the development of the game and, in addition, he connected in a fantastic way with the three-quarter zone. He was hardly erratic in the pass and did work without the ball. In social networks, some fans classified him as the “new Thiago”. He was the lowest rated footballer by German media, although his expulsion played a key role in the evaluation. Despite everything, yes, the fact that he was sent off at his first opportunity in a high-altitude match may have a negative impact in your near future.
Youth and ideal place
Marc Roca turns 24 this Thursday. Of course, he still has many years of professional career ahead of him and is in the right place to grow as a footballer. Bayern are now considered the best team on the continent. On that side, his teammates can give him a hand if forces falter. For another, the fact that the club dominates with an iron fist in national competition, allows Flick to rotate without regrets. Another point in favor is the economic effort made by the entity to guarantee its arrival, especially in the year of the pandemic. What's more, the Spanish have always offered a great performance at the Allianz Arena. Examples of Javi Martínez, Thiago Alcántara or Xabi Alonso endorse it. Lucas Hernández is still in the acclimatization period. Odriozola did not work in his brief stint in the entity.
Flick also cabled him at a press conference. At the end of October, asked about the reasons why the midfielder was not having opportunities, he explained the following: “It takes time to internalize the automation. He works well in training, he has a very professional attitude. The situation of integrating him into the lineup has not yet occurred. We have had few exercises with the entire staff. There are certain things that have to be trained. Up front it is easier, because individual quality is key there. “If the coach keeps his word, he will keep the fantastic tactical game that he played on '22', above the double warning that he retired from the field before weather.
Rock, predisposed
Just a week ago, in one of the only interviews the player has given since he arrived in Munich, Marc Roca was satisfied with the decision taken and considered that it is a matter of time to adapt to the team: “I know where I am. It is the best place to be. You have to work hard, adapt, learn a lot from them and little by little everything will come if God wants. “He even explained what is missing to win a place in the Bayern eleven:”I must gain aggressiveness and intensity. Here the game is less controlled, it is back and forth“.
Of course, the expert has companions to learn from. Natural, since Bayern have just won a new Champions League with enormous power. Among all of them, Roca especially admires Muller, for whom the years do not seem to pass: “They are all amazing, but I love Muller, he is very smart in his movements“He also praised Joshua Kimmich, who will miss a couple of months of competition because of his meniscus injury:”I want him to recover because it is very important to us. He is a great player and I can learn from him“.
Espanyol, always present
Despite the bad season last season, Marc Roca has left his mark at Espanyol. With his baton and that of Sergi Darder, an unforgettable year was signed that took them back to the Europa League. If the player has given everything for the club, the club has also made him what he is today. That is why, in the previous match against Salzburg, the midfielder photographed his box office, in which you could see his two shin guards. In them, He was wearing the shirt of his old team, to which he will always be grateful. Despite not starting off on the right foot, the talented midfielder will continue to fight to earn a place and succeed in what is now one of the best teams on the planet.