Mundo Deportivo: Flick Insists on Not Rotating Espart, Player Shows Excellent Form

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona's 19-year-old youngster Espart has become a key player in Flick's tactics, with his starting position considered unshakable.

When Lillo joined Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City, Cancelo was one of the main topics they discussed extensively, with the focus being on how to maximize the potential of one of the world's most creative full-backs. In the end, they decided to use a tactical adjustment to involve Cancelo more in matches: deploying him as a left-back while allowing him to repeatedly move into central areas. The goal was Guardiola's familiar approach of creating numerical advantages in midfield. This arrangement was not unprecedented, as Lahm had previously become an extension of Guardiola's tactical system at Bayern.

Five years later, Cancelo has become a substitute at Barcelona, and his competitor is the academy player whom Flick compared with Lahm last season. The 19-year-old Espart is no longer just a preseason surprise for Barcelona; the full-back, developed in the style of La Masia midfielders, has started all of the team's first four league matches.

At Mestalla Stadium, Espart started again at left-back, but his influence on the match has already gone beyond his position. With excellent spatial awareness, Espart has become an X-factor for the team, making it difficult for opponents to identify and restrict him.

Against Valencia, he became an important versatile player for the team, serving as a key outlet from the back while also helping organize attacks through his support movements. During Barcelona's possession phases, he also moved into the attacking midfield area at times, providing another option in attack.

Rodri's presence has allowed several players to advance their positions and given Barcelona more attacking resources ahead of the ball. Espart is one of them; he can naturally build chemistry with players such as Pedri while also forming a highly complementary partnership with Gordon on the left flank.

This is not surprising. Barcelona have moved from previously using an inverted winger like Raphinha, who likes to cut inside, to using Gordon, a more traditional winger who prefers staying near the touchline. This profile is highly compatible with Espart's tendency to move inside.

Espart has become the only defender under Flick who has not been involved in rotation, and no one would dare place him on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League debut against Feyenoord. At Mestalla Stadium, neither Cancelo nor Balde came on as substitutes, and the possibility of the Portuguese player starting cannot be ruled out. However, Flick is usually conservative with arrangements that are working well.

At the start of this season, Flick made at least three changes in every match, but with Espart in excellent form, he is maximizing the player's role. To participate in the U19 European Championship, Espart gave up his holiday; after returning to the team, he showed even better form and subsequently became Flick's latest tactical success.

"He is a top player," the German coach repeatedly emphasized. When Espart is on the pitch, Barcelona have an additional full-back with the match intelligence of a traditional Barcelona midfielder.