Barca aims to add steel to attacking edge

BARCELONA — While Barcelona thrilled on its way to winning La Liga last season, scoring 102 goals in the process, coach Hansi Flick accepts that, this season, his team needs to improve defensively.

With teen star Lamine Yamal shining in attack alongside Raphinha, the Catalan giant proved an irresistible force as it claimed a domestic treble.

However the German coach's high-pressing defensive line sometimes left Barcelona exposed at the back, though it made for frequently gripping, end-to-end matches.

The team's 7-6 Champions League semifinal aggregate defeat to Inter Milan was a prime example of the risks inherent in its setup.

"For me, it's not always fun, sometimes I really suffer a lot," admitted Flick in May after Barca beat rival Real Madrid 4-3 in a wild "Clasico "encounter that put Barca on the brink of the title.

"I'm really happy with what we are doing (in general), and, of course, football is a game of making mistakes. Hopefully, we can make things better and make fewer mistakes."

The coach made a pledge before the summer break: "I know that we have to improve (defensively) and we will do it next season," vowed Flick.

Whether Barca can maintain the same verve in attack is still up for debate, even before any defensive considerations.

Raphinha, 28, had the best season of his career, which will be hard to repeat, while striker Robert Lewandowski turns 37 later this month.

Yamal, who has taken former Barca great Lionel Messi's hallowed No 10 shirt, turned 18 in July and is his team's greatest hope for the months and years ahead.

Limited spending power

While Real Madrid has been able to spend over 172 million euros ($200 million) on new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono, as well as hiring Xabi Alonso as coach, Barcelona's poor financial state means its activity in the transfer market has been limited.

The Catalans believe their youngsters like Yamal, centerback Pau Cubarsi, 18, and midfielder Pedri, still only 22, despite his experience, will continue to grow and improve.

They brought in Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan from Manchester United to try and revive the English attacker's career and reap the benefits of his huge potential, giving Flick more quality to rotate with.

Barcelona did make one important permanent signing this summer in the form of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, improving what was, arguably, the weakest spot in the team.

Wojciech Szczesny filled in admirably after coming out of retirement to replace the injured veteran Marc-Andre ter Stegen last season, but is expected to take a reserve role behind the new arrival from Barca's crosstown rival.

Garcia is in line to start when Barca kicks off its campaign at Mallorca on Aug 16.

The champion will also be hoping to draw strength from its return to the Spotify Camp Nou.

While the Olympic Stadium on the city's Montjuic hill has proven a pleasant stand-in for the past two seasons, it lacks the atmosphere and grandeur of Barcelona's traditional home.

The Catalans are slated to return to the Camp Nou for the fourth league game of the season against Valencia, after playing the first three matches of the season on the road. However, Barca's return to the stadium, initially planned for Nov 2024, has been pushed back numerous times, and it's possible it could be postponed again.

Regardless, barring a disaster, Barca will be back there by the time it hosts Real Madrid in May 2026, a potentially decisive game in the title race.

Given that Flick's side started last season as underdog to Madrid, the fact it is the favorite to retain the title this time around cannot be taken too seriously.

The key may be whether or not Flick is able to set the team up to be more defensively sound without sacrificing any of its attacking edge.

AFP