5 things Barcelona should do to improve their chances of winning a treble

#2 Improve upon their tactical play

Barcelona's manager Ernesto Valverde on the Camp Nou sideline

Valverde's 4-4-2 simply isn't Barcelona's cup of coffee. For a team that has traditionally played in a 4-3-3 system, creating more passing options and wing play, switching to a flat 4-4-2 seems like a bad option.

Tactics are meant to draw the best out of the men on the field, not to force them to play in a system they are uncomfortable in, or aren't used to. One such example is Sergio Busquets.

The Octopus of Badia as Barcelona fans call him prefers to play as a defensive midfielder, holding down all the lines that go forward from the defence. Busquets has been leading by example for almost a decade now. An irreplaceable talent, Busquets excels in situations when he is the only pivot holding the centre circle.

Sergio Busquets: Barcelona's CDM and silent leader on the pitch

However, Valverde has at times forced two pivots at the same time to improve the defence, but this puts extra pressure on Leo Messi to create passes.

Well, the Argentine could do that with ease, but the problem arises when he is forced to score the goals playing as a deep-lying playmaker. Whenever Luis Suarez has a bad day, Messi is forced to play two roles simultaneously.

Valverde surely would be thinking about the options he has. A standard 4-3-3 isn't the only solution.

Another widely accepted and successful solution is a 4-3-3 with a False 9. With Coutinho and Dembele in their ranks, Barcelona can effectively exploit the wings with Messi playing in the middle box between the defenders.

Although there is no perfect solution, and neither is Valverde's tactics absurd, a slight improvement would only do good.

One of the biggest breakthroughs Valverde achieved in his first season was the attacking contributions Jordi Alba had in games. Another such breakthrough this season could really help Barcelona do wonders in all three competitions.