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The Dutchman has introduced a new line-up and is looking to assure fans that it is something that will work in the future.
Barcelona began Ronald Koeman’s tenure as manager with a 3-1 friendly win over Gimnastic de Tarragona on Saturday.
After Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring in the fifth minute, penalties from Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho led Koeman’s team to a comfortable victory.
Barcelona lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system rarely used at the club in the past, with the entire starting team switched at half time.
Sergio Busquets and Carles Alena started the game as containment midfielders before being replaced by Frenkie de Jong and Riqui Puig, and Koeman later stressed that having two players in that role will allow the team to attack with more versatility.
“It may be different and a bit more defensive than what has been seen in recent years, but the goal is to move the ball, catch it and find the spaces to play between the lines, and behind rival midfielders,” Koeman told the post. -match.
“I think this team can do it because we have midfielders to play like that.
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 12, 2020
“The most important thing is that fortunately there have been no injuries. We have all played 45 minutes. There were moments of good intensity. There are always things to improve but we are happy. We have been here for two weeks and we have two more to go.
“It is important that they already play because it is not a normal preseason. We only have four weeks, not six. It is complicated. What we want to do now is physical work and in the next two weeks work on the tactics on the plus side.”
After his failed attempt to leave the Camp Nou, Messi started the match as captain and seemed happy to be back on the pitch after so much drama off the pitch.
While Messi participated in the friendly played at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, Luis Suárez and Arturo Vidal were notable omissions with both players linked to a possible departure from Barcelona in recent weeks.
Suárez was believed to be close to joining Juventus, while Vidal could also head to Serie A with Inter, reportedly eager to bring the midfielder to Milan.
Barcelona will play another preseason friendly on Wednesday against Girona before kicking off their La Liga season against Villarreal on September 26.
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