Hansi Flick is keeping a close eye on young players who are midway between Barça Atlètic and the first team. Managing this situation is never easy, and balancing priorities is complicated. The needs of the first team take precedence over those of Barça Atlètic, just as Juvenil A adapts to the requirements of Belletti’s team. But in the middle of it all are the players. In the first three league matches of the first team, there were no doubts as Barça Atlètic had not officially debuted yet.
Three out of Four
Tomorrow’s debut of Belletti’s team against Porreres (12h) is a great chance for these players (Dro, Toni, Guille, and Jofre) to gain rhythm and build confidence in their game by getting minutes with the subsidiary. Training and being summoned with the first team is always a great learning experience, but a footballer needs to play to evolve and not stagnate.
This was Hansi Flick’s plan, and it has been executed with Guillermo Fernández, Dro, and Toni Fernández. The same plan was intended for Jofre Torrents, but Balde’s physical issues prompted Flick to reserve him to avoid problems in the left-back position of the first team.
Having Jofre at 100% is Crucial
Gerard Martín is the natural alternative to Balde, but Flick will need a reliable player to replace Gerard until Balde recovers, and Jofre is the chosen one. The coaching staff might have allowed him to play against Porreres, but a potential injury in this match would present a problem for Flick.
Jofre Torrents debuted against Mallorca / Dani Barbeito
The other left-backs of Barça Atlètic (Oduro and Walton) are currently far from being a real alternative for the first team, and caution has led to the decision to reserve Jofre Torrents.
A Club’s Commitment
The 19-year-old left-back is the only one of these players who has already had minutes at the start of Barça’s first team league. The club’s idea is that Jofre becomes a left-back who can settle in the first team in the coming years.
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