Commenting on the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, which ended in a 4-4 draw, Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta spoke about several technical points related to the Catalan team’s performance under coach Hansi Flick.
Iniesta’s statements came via Radio Catalunya, where he discussed the highlights of the match, pointing out some tactical decisions that sparked controversy among the team’s fans.
Iniesta began his speech by highlighting the strange situation of young player Marc Casado, noting that he had only started once in the last six matches despite his great performance in the only match in which he started, which was against Las Palmas.
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Iniesta confirmed that Casado’s performance was excellent, but this did not qualify him to participate in the Atletico Madrid match, neither as a starter nor even as a substitute. Iniesta said: “The match against Atletico was perfect for Casado in the second half, as the team was under a lot of pressure. In such situations, there is no better player than Casado in the team.”
Iniesta explained that he expected Flick to bring on Casado in the second half to provide support in midfield after the team’s level dropped, but he kept Frenkie de Jong, despite his poor performance in the match. He pointed out that the most surprising change was the substitution of Pedri, who was one of the most daring players and caused a lot of attacking effectiveness. Iniesta asked Flick to leave Gavi out of the starting lineup, stressing that the player’s current level does not match the level Barcelona is trying to reach this season. He said: “I have great respect for Gavi, but his participation in the starting lineup at this level will be a curse on the team’s season.”
Iniesta pointed out that Barcelona were unable to take advantage of the decisive moments, especially in the final minutes of the match, as the team was in a state of defensive chaos. Iniesta said: “There could have been more chances for Barcelona if they had maintained their defensive organization, but rushing into the attack and leaving spaces for Atletico Madrid made things deteriorate in the end.”
Iniesta did not hesitate to express his opinion on Flick’s tactical decisions, stressing the need to return to a more balanced formation. He stated that in light of the poor level of some players in the team, it is necessary for Flick to adjust some of his choices, such as involving Marc Casado more. In his opinion, Flick should give more chances to players who have shown their potential in previous matches, rather than continuing to rely on the same formation in light of the fluctuating results.
