According to AS, the personnel choices at right-back for Barcelona this season have become a focal point of external attention. In 15 official matches, Flick has started Eric Garcia, Kounde, Xavi Espart, and Brian Fariñas at right-back, none of whom are naturally right-backs.
Barcelona's current right-back situation warrants in-depth examination and has significant historical roots. Eusebio, Goikoetxea, Celades, Luis Enrique, Gabri, and Roberto all played this position in their respective eras. The historical thread is clear. In Barcelona's 15 official matches this season, Flick has started Eric Garcia at this position seven times, making him Flick's first choice this season. However, Kounde (four times), Xavi Espart (two times), and the recently emerging Brian Fariñas (two times) have also appeared in the starting lineup.
Ironically, with the exception of Cancelo — who is arguably a natural for the position but whom Flick prefers not to start on the right to avoid conflict with Lamine Yamal's position — the common characteristic of these four players who have started at right-back is that none of them grew up playing in that position. Some, like Kounde, even initially resisted the assignment. The Frenchman primarily chose to join Barcelona because Tuchel wanted him to play right-back for Chelsea. Xavi had promised him a center-back role, the position where he made his name at Sevilla, and the deal was thus sealed. Over time, Kounde himself admitted that perhaps his true position is right-back. Eric Garcia has always been a versatile player, but he developed as a center-back, which is where he feels most comfortable. However, for Flick, he has become the first choice at right-back, a message Flick clearly conveyed to him at the end of last season.
Then there are the cases of Xavi Espart and Brian Fariñas. The two have different styles but both came up through the midfield. Indeed, Flick had high hopes for the number 12 from the start, even daring to compare him to Kimmich — a veteran at a powerhouse like Bayern. However, Xavi Espart's foundation is in midfield. He is a player who excels at touching the ball and orchestrating play, with the ability to read the game. Similar to Casado's situation, he can adapt to the right-back position, but Xavi Espart gives the impression that he can reach an even higher level than Casado, who currently plays for Deportivo La Coruña. Meanwhile, Brian Fariñas's appearance at right-back against Deportivo Alavés surprised everyone; no one had previously envisioned this arrangement. Flick's innovative idea worked so well that despite the team lacking a specialist right-back and having a left-footed left-back in Balde, he continued to start Brian Fariñas in the Champions League match against Aston Villa.
To this day, no one can be sure what will happen next. Theoretically, the pecking order is unquestionable: Eric Garcia, Kounde, Xavi Espart, Brian Fariñas. But what if Flick leverages the surprisingly excellent performances of the young players to move Eric Garcia and Kounde back to center-back?
For the players, the most important thing is to play; everyone is willing to put in the effort, especially young players, if it helps them establish themselves in the first team and kickstart their careers. Barcelona's right-back is a peculiar position that has undergone countless changes since Dani Alves's departure. There have been almost fraudulent signings like Douglas, unsuccessful attempts like Aleix Vidal, Semedo, and Dest, and academy players like Óscar Mingueza who failed to establish themselves in the first team. There have also been professional players who acted as emergency solutions since Cruyff's era, such as Eusebio and Celades. This has almost become a tradition, subsequently continued by Luis Enrique, Gabri, and Roberto, cases that can, to some extent, be compared to Xavi Espart. This makeshift arrangement is another turning point. Barcelona's right-back is the strangest position in the world.
