Ronald Koeman Has An Interesting New Strategy For FC Barcelona’s Attack

Ronald Koeman started the weekend as one of soccer’s big winners.

The captain may be unhappy that his attempt to leave was blocked by president Josep Bartomeu, but Lionel Messi is staying for at least another year and is a blessing to any team.

Previously, the Argentine had told Koeman in their first meeting that he saw his future “more out of the club” than in, and went on to send shockwaves through the soccer world by sending the now-infamous burofax that communicated a desire to unilaterally cancel his contract.

But all that has fallen by the wayside now and Barca must, with Messi set to report for training on Monday and their first preseason friendly scheduled for a week on Saturday, set out on their plan to ensure that 2020/2021 does not end trophyless like its predecessor.

Koeman has plans for Barcelona’s attack which will presumably center around the 4-2-3-1 strategy he has earmarked.

With Frenkie de Jong now in his natural position of pivot, the Dutchman will field a pair of them placing his young compatriot alongside Sergio Busquets or new signing Miralem Pjanic.

Philippe Coutinho could easily be the central man in the more attacking midfield three, as this is an area of the pitch he has excelled for the Brazil national team in leading them to their first major trophy in 12 years last July at the Copa America.

On either side of him, it is likely to be Messi to the right and Ousmane Dembele or Pedri to the left. Antoine Griezmann will no longer be suffocated on the latter-mentioned flank but it was previously thought that Ansu Fati would compete for minutes there.

According to Mundo Deportivo this morning, however, Koeman apparently sees the 17-year-old more as a natural ‘9’ striker up top. And now that Luis Suarez is just an Italian language test and some other paperwork away from joining Juventus, it seems a three-horse race between Griezmann, Fati and a new signing such as Memphis Depay to become the lone target man providing Lautaro Martinez does not arrive from Inter Milan.

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