Rodri can be perfect addition to Flick’s high line to push Barça over the line in Europe

On the day that the temperatures finally dropped in Catalonia and the heavens opened above the Camp Nou, Feyenoord were still left feeling the heat from a scintillating Barcelona side that took just three minutes to burn through their defence and kick off their flood of goals. 

It’s been 11 seasons since FC Barcelona last won the Champions League, and without a doubt it’s the title that culers most crave. Manager Hansi Flick brought the team up a level since his arrival, making the semi-finals in his first campaign. 

The target this season can be none other than reaching the summit of Europe once more, underlined especially by the signing of Rodri. 

Barça went into this campaign with some question marks over squad composition, having missed out on Julian Álvarez and starting the season with an apparent gap in the striker position. But instead, 22 goals in five games suggest that a signing was never needed, when Raphinha has the genius to adapt to a new position, take on new responsibilities, and start the season in blitzing fashion.

But deeper on the pitch, it’ll be Rodri who can make the difference in this Barcelona team. 

Barça’s best form of defence this season will be keeping the ball, exhausting their opponents physically and mentally with control of the game. Rodri is the best holding midfielder in the world and is the perfect addition to this high-risk, high-reward setup. 

Rodri is the archetypal connective tissue midfielder, always providing a passing option, and knowing where to play the ball once he receives it. The metronomic midfielder sets the pace of the game, slows things down and speeds things up as appropriate, backed by the intelligence to know when to do one or the other. 

Even the one time he was caught by a pair of hunting Feyenoord midfielders on Wednesday evening, he still managed to stick a foot in to ensure the visitors couldn’t cleanly dispossess him, and the breaking ball fell once again to a blaugrana shirt. 

Hansi Flick’s high line has its critics, and has been breached in latter stages of European competition on key occasions, but there is method to the madness, as catching opponents offside is part of the plan and no lucky let-off. 

Out of possession, Rodri will solidify Barça’s weakest points. Nobody is better than the former Manchester City lynchpin at snuffing out opposition counter attacks before they begin, be it with a perfectly timed intervention or a clever foul to slow proceedings.

He’ll also offer height and muscle in facing set pieces that the blaugrana have been somewhat short on in recent years. 

Both of those weak points were badly exposed by Inter Milan when Barcelona came tantalizingly close to reaching the Champions League final two seasons ago.  

During the summer, everyone waited for Barça to sign a striker to be the difference maker. Instead, it might just be a midfielder who does all the basic essentials quietly that pushes them over the line.