Hansi Flick should really start €7.5m Barcelona youngster against Athletic Club — Opinion | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are set to face Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final tonight, and a victory could secure them a hypothetical El Clasico final, provided Real Madrid defeat Mallorca in their semi-final.

The Basque club, however, is no easy opponent and is one of the most well-drilled teams in La Liga at the moment. Former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has done an excellent job with the team, guiding them to victories over several big clubs in recent years.

Therefore, Hansi Flick will be keen to get his starting XI right. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be able to field his strongest team, as Dani Olmo will miss this match due to ongoing registration issues.

When fit and in form, Olmo provides an invaluable quality to this team, and Flick will need to adapt to his absence. This is where we believe the German coach should place his trust in the talented 21-year-old midfielder, Pablo Torre.

Torre has impressed in the limited opportunities he has had this season, and his performance against Barbastro in the Copa del Rey was a fantastic display of playmaking. In terms of playing style, he is the closest the squad has to Olmo.

The €7.5m-rated midfielder’s ability to operate between the lines is what sets him apart. He can receive the ball under pressure, turn his man, and has the vision to pick out passes and thread them through to runners ahead of him. Additionally, his set-piece deliveries are a valuable asset.

Of course, Torre is not as good as some of the others when it comes to pressing out-of-possession but so isn’t Olmo. It is time Barcelona start taking the 21-year-old for what he is rather than judging him for what he isn’t.

Hansi Flick might be tempted to go with Gavi in the #10 role in this game, due to his ability to press from the front. On the same account, the German coach might even deploy Fermin as the #10 but he should be brave and go for Torre.

Of course, counter-pressing is extremely essential to the success of Hansi Flick’s system but so is chance creation. In terms of this, Pablo Torre is miles clear of the likes of Gavi and Fermin, whose primary strength is definitely not this.

It’s time Pablo Torre starts receiving more minutes. If not, it won’t be long before Barcelona lose this talented, right-footed magician. Let’s wait and see if Hansi Flick starts the 21-year-old against Athletic Club in the Super Cup and if the Santander maestro can take his chance and make a further case for him being a starter going forward.