The Guardiola presser, in particular the part about the players struggling, then rushing things because they are struggling, then lacking confidence because nothing seems to work then rushing even more, finds its analog in Barça. Heavy metal football is now panicked.
Pichchi Lewandowski was picking his shots, taking a breath because he had time and confidence. This Lewandowski is just batting at the ball. Three great chances, one wide two hit directly at a keeper who barely had to move. As the sense of struggle builds, so does the rush.
Kounde had a pair of excellent chances, both pushed wide from a rushed shot cut finer than it needed to be. Balde passed when he should have shot, shot when he should have passed. In the final third, passes are almost dumped in, high-risk balls easy to parry.
The only one still doing what he does, like the eye of a hurricane, is Pedri, who has been reliably brilliant all season. Sadly, nobody takes cues from him in the headlong rush to solve a problem that just needs everybody to take. A. Breath.
At the defensive end passes are rushed late in matches, turning wins into draws and draws into losses. Opponents press and Barça plays into their hands. Chaotic football doesn't suit them. Don't have the athletes for it. Managers know this, and their teams accelerate play.
In every Liga match where there has been a bad result, you can see the consequence of rushing. Calm can't be trained, because match situations are different. Reflex takes over and the rush begins. Flick has a challenge on his hands, and the long knives are being sharpened.
As some folks said, the real test for Flick would be the inevitable adversity. He now has a clunky team, a broken Golden Child and a huge match against a title rival up next. Narratives change fast in the entorno. Somewhere Xavi is shaking his head ruefully. He knows.
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