According to Sport, Espart's emergence has transformed the competition for Barcelona's left-back position, with Balde now demoted to third choice.

Barcelona's left-back situation has undergone significant transformation at the start of this season. Espart was still playing as a right-back at the end of last season and had almost no experience on the left flank, having played there just once in his career.

However, Flick saw different potential in the young player. The German coach initially tested him several times in training, then deployed him as a starter in the match against Elche. The experiment worked remarkably well, and Espart has since established himself in the starting lineup.

Flick is very satisfied with the 19-year-old's performance. The tactical change Espart brings is clear: he constantly drifts inward, appearing in the attacking midfield line and adding numbers to the midfield. This adjustment also allows Gavi on the same flank to maintain full width, giving the team a numerical advantage in midfield.

Espart's rise has reshaped the hierarchy on the left. Balde has been gradually pushed out of rotation, and Cancelo, signed by Barcelona this summer, is also behind the academy product. Cancelo started only in the recent Champions League match against Feyenoord.

Against this backdrop, the coaching staff believes Espart is ideal for matches requiring ball possession and game control. Despite his youth, they believe he brings stability, composure, and control to the team at both ends of the pitch. His game reading and maturity are crucial for tactical execution and maintaining shape.

Cancelo, by contrast, represents a different profile. The Portuguese player prefers to venture forward, is strong in attack, and more aggressive, but relatively unstable in defense. He can create threats in the opponent's penalty area with his individual quality, but can sometimes disrupt the balance of the back line.

Flick values having both player types on the left flank, especially given the congested schedule. Different players will get opportunities, and fluctuations in form will also influence his choices.

In this situation, Balde's future has become uncertain. He has barely featured at the start of this season, and if the situation continues over the coming weeks, his name will likely become a topic of discussion in the winter transfer window. However, there is still considerable time before the winter window, and the situation could still change. For now, Balde is third choice, and Flick's decision appears firm.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com