Francisco Trincao, Mr. 31 million, as the newspaper A Bola called him after naming him “best goal generator” in the Portuguese League last season, has not yet made his debut with the Barça shirt. “It will come, I'm sure. With work,” he reassured himself last week when asked about the question. But the fact is that, after 15 official matches, the former Sporting de Braga player has not been able to score. And it won't be because you haven't tried. Two shots per game in the five Champions League he has played (297 minutes); and almost one in the minutes he has had in ten LaLiga games (195 minutes).
Trincao started playing with self-confidence at Barça but, like the team, his confidence has been waning. He has started daring with fewer dribbles; He has stopped widening the field: and, on occasions, he messes with the ball. Nothing to do with the rising player who signed a season finale at Braga that impressed everyone and who arrived with so many expectations and such good looks that Barça ruled out the possibility of a loan from the beginning.
It is an important year for Francisco Trincao, who has also been fortunate that Koeman has respected his ideal position, stuck to the right wing despite the fact that he is a closed left-hander. With an election in sight, your goal should be to consolidate yourself in the team and have the confidence of the new management team so as not to be transfer meat. It has shown good condition. He is an obedient player on the field and works for the team. But in his position, the imbalance and the goal are key. Dembélé's injury, which started behind him in Koeman's preferences but later overtook him, again opens doors to have minutes. Against Juventus he had a fantastic opportunity to claim a big game, but he was not up to the task in the first half and Koeman replaced him. You must regain the coach's confidence and belief in himself. With Dembélé out and Ansu injured, he has half a season to take off again. The first thing is that the goal stops avoiding him in every corner.