Really interesting comments from Gerard Pique that Barcelona become too predictable under Tito Vilanova last season and that new coach Gerardo Martino’s tactical approach gives the team more options.
“We’ve had a number of years with homegrown coaches in charge, first Pep and then Tito,” Pique told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We occasionally tended to exaggerate our possession based stye of play to the point where we were slaves of our own philosophy. Now we have Tata as our coach, who has the same football philosophy, but also has other alternatives and that is a very positive thing in my opinion.
“If you are under pressure, there’s nothing wrong with a long ball every now and then. That changes the game and could give you some rest and oxygen. You have to keep improving and developing in football or you will become predictable.”
Pique has a valid point. It seemed at times under Vilanova, and Guardiola, that if you could pack the middle of the pitch and that you could frustrate and beat Barcelona as they had no Plan B to attack a different way. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Martino handles this kind of tactical approach.
Spain have been also criticized for lacking a Plan B also, and a fresh tactical approach from Barcelona might have a knock on effect that helps Spain at next summer’s world cup.