The 4-2-3-1, in the eye of the hurricane

The 4-2-3-1 is the new subject of debate in Barcelona. Without a president to point out, analyzed in front and behind the Messi issue; With the rest of those who should be franchise players (Griezmann, De Jong, Coutinho, Lenglet) radiographed ad nauseam, the focus has gone to Koeman. And as the Dutchman is not disputed for his bravery with the young people and his historical weight in the club as a Wembley hero, we must specify in the system.

The purists have raised their voices as soon as the bad results have started. Defenders of 4-3-3 until the last consequences, of the only midfielder, the interiors and extreme football, the double pivot is almost a heresy that in Barcelona was not seen almost since the time of Robson and then Antic, in the transition season to the elections that Laporta won. The defenders of 4-3-3 consider that Barça must return to put midfielders to regain control of possession that they have lost and that strips them defensively.

Koeman will have to make a decision. Whether to be true to his ideas and stick with the drawing, in which he has stood firm, privately and publicly, or shake it all up again and give the scheme he has been working with since the beginning of the season a twist. The Dutchman has already heard some critical voice, such as Griezmann at the beginning of the season, due to his position on the pitch, or Pjanic, although the Bosnian's had to do with the lack of minutes. Ter Stegen also slipped a criticism of the Dutchman on Tuesday when he said that “individual errors are one thing and how he defends himself another thing.”

Koeman, therefore, is reproached for the fact that the double pivot has not fixed the team's defensive leaks, that the team is narrow and does not play with extremes; and, in short, that he does not govern the games from possession, which is how the best Barça won, around the ball. Levante, Real or Valencia will put the reality of 4-2-3-1 to the test.