Player Focus: Bartra developing balance between Puyol and Pique

“Marc Bartra will become a lot better than me, because he’s faster, braver and smarter.” Gerard Piqué wasn’t coy when it came to talking about his new partner in the centre of Barcelona’s defence. Meanwhile Carles Puyol, as opposed to talking about, has been talking to the player in question. “Puyol talks to Bartra a lot and calms him down, keeps his temper in check” continued coach Gerardo Martino.

Everyone is talking about Marc Bartra, but the youngster is doing his talking where it matters – on the field.

A consistent run of first team action has seen the potential he clearly harnessed come to fruition. Early days it may be, but the development of Bartra has seen the various flaws from his game eradicated. Before we saw an erratic customer, charging around the field and running with an overload of youthful exuberance. “When I see Marc Bartra I am reminded of myself with the crazy surges up the field,” Piqué said. “You must keep in line and stay serious. These are things that you get with experience, and realising that you must stay back.” The Martino-Puyol combination, plus to an extent Piqué, has seen Bartra cut a different figure in the backline.

It’s a figure of subtlety but with plenty of presence, one of physicality but without aggression. Bartra has found balance but also hope of even more projection. His WhoScored rating of 7.70 puts him down as the 3rd highest rated Barça player, behind the figures of Lionel Messi and Neymar. It’s obvious as to why too, as when it comes to the basics this season he’s had it covered. His 2.9 tackles per game is the 3rd most at Barça, while his 3 interceptions per game rank 2nd.

Formerly Barça fans were looking to their rivals Real Madrid with envy as the strapping force of Raphaël Varane offered insight into their future as a defensive force. Barça meandered with an unpredictable Piqué and injury-ravaged Puyol. They needed Bartra as much as he needed the minutes. It was seemingly an obvious choice, but it’s one that did take time to come by.

Questions persist over how Barça are being run as a club, with senior figures preferring to be frugal rather than splashing out on a Thiago Silva or David Luiz. Whatever negatives or opinions you may hold towards the hierarchy, their incompetence has brought about Bartra’s rise. Martino’s hand, albeit limited, was forced into blooding Bartra. “We must count on Marc because we are so few at the back” said Piqué recently. The 22-year-old has let no one down.

For many years Marc Muniesa was regarded as the best young centre-back at Barça and rightly so. He was a combative but composed individual, with a great future. Two severe knee injuries dealt his prospects a blow however. Bartra has been more fortunate with fitness, and with that have come invaluable minutes. When they’ve come, he’s certainly taken advantage.

Take last weekend against Real Betis when Piqué’s injury played up. As opposed to being his partner Bartra instead took upon his workload. He was the ‘attacking’ centre-back, moving out of defence and handed license to knit the first stages of play together. His 44 passes were more than any other defender, and while doing so he maintained an 84% passing accuracy. His average passes for this season stands at 50.1, while his 94.6% passing accuracy is the highest at Barça overall.

Under the tutelage of Puyol it will be interesting to see what type of centre-back Bartra truly becomes, be it one of the more modern variety outright or, ideally, one that is balanced across all duties. Bartra hasn’t had a loan away from the club and this has perhaps negated the experience having failed to toughen up certain aspects of his game. In time, that will of course come.

Bartra was unfortunate to be thrown in at the deep end last season with 180 minutes against FC Bayern. Prior to that he’d been handed little-to-no game time and was asked to perform on the spot. It served as a learning experience to a player now looking to nail down a regular spot in the team, irrespective of injuries and form to his fellow centre-backs.

With a pre-season and a Spain Under-21 victory behind him, Bartra had the perfect platform from which to elevate himself for the current season.

Performances like that against Celta Vigo mark the bar that Bartra has raised for himself. He was dominant, commanding and aware of the actions around him. Celta were ferocious in their movement and transition of attack but Bartra, as opposed to getting sucked in, held his position and read the game with intelligence.

He produced 5 tackles, completed 5 clearances effectively, blocked 2 shots and made 4 interceptions. Alongside Puyol, he was handed the creative duties similar to those we saw recently against Betis. In an away ground he showed his competence on the ball making 66 passes – the most on the field that night – and managed an exceptional 97% accuracy. Not only could he do it in the home comforts of the Camp Nou, but also on a Tuesday evening in the north of Spain.

It’s no surprise then that Del Bosque finally took notice. This is a player who has been a regular feature with Spain U-21’s and who is now earning regular action. Earning is a key word, with nothing being handed to him. Although Del Bosque craves a national side with a nucleus of a few clubs, Bartra’s call-up was not just due to him being a Barça player. He represents a quality Spain are light on too, with Iñigo Martínez the only other young centre-back to show genuine promise. Martínez’s regularity in the XI and form with Real Sociedad puts him in a better position to make the World Cup 2014 squad, but Bartra can’t be discounted.

“It’s with great pride my idol [Puyol] says that I could have many years here [at Barcelona]. I’ll continue to work hard, and take all his advice”. Soon, Bartra might not only be taking advice from Puyol – but his place too.