The defense of Barcelona could be Hansi Flick’s Achilles’ heel this season.

The Barcelona season is going through a critical moment, marked by a series of devastating defeats that have left fans in shock. Following a humiliating 4-0 loss to Atlético de Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, Hansi Flick’s team suffered further by falling 2-1 against Girona, managed by Michel, in La Liga. These results have not only drained the morale of the squad but have also alarmingly exposed the fragility of the team’s defensive system, especially its vulnerable high line.

What is happening with Barcelona’s defense? According to the newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick’s relentless search for a defensive formation is proving to be a real puzzle. The coach has tried every possible option to stabilize the backline, making frequent tactical and technical adjustments, but has been unable to find a definitive solution. In 38 official matches this season, Flick has used an impressive 16 different defensive formations. Interestingly, he has repeated the same formation 11 times, but never consecutively.

Within this intense rotation, a specific combination of players has emerged as the most utilized: Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, and Alejandro Balde. This quartet has already started together on 12 occasions across all competitions, including eight league matches. However, despite this frequent usage, the preferred center-back duo in the team remains Cubarsi alongside Gerard Martin, highlighting the instability plaguing the defense.

The situation is so critical that Flick has been forced to make several positional adjustments, using four different right-backs throughout the campaign. Kounde and Garcia have been the most frequent on the right flank, while Marc Casado and Joao Cancelo have also been called upon at certain moments. This need for adaptation has led to natural players like Garcia being reconfigured as midfielders and full-backs, and even Cancelo has had to play as a left-back to cover the structural gaps in the defense.

The lack of a solid defensive structure not only jeopardizes the team’s results but also puts Hansi Flick’s continuity at the helm of Barcelona at risk. Fans are demanding answers and a quick turnaround, while the coach is racing against time to find the right combination that can restore stability and confidence to the team. Flick’s future and Barcelona’s ambitions now hinge on his ability to solve this defensive puzzle before it’s too late.