This was no trial run
At first, it looked like nothing more than a training-ground experiment. Eric Garcia at right-back for a few sessions, nothing more.
It was always part of a bigger plan. According to Catalan daily Sport, Hansi Flick now clearly sees the Spaniard as the main option in that role. The switch has been visible in training since his return from the World Cup. It is becoming a tactical choice.
The warning sign was there already. In the last Clasico, Flick started Garcia against Real Madrid. With Jules Kounde available. That was no accident.
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A profile Flick likes
Versatility and technical quality. That is what the German coach points to when explaining the new role.
The numbers back it up. Garcia is coming off a season of 51 appearances, including 11 already at right-back. So this is not a new position for him. He knows it, he has played it, and Flick has had plenty of time to see how it works across those eleven matches before making up his mind.
And Kounde?
That is the real question here.
The French international has long been a guaranteed starter, at Barca and with France. This reshuffle changes the pecking order and naturally weakens his standing. According to Foot Mercato, the Catalan club is now seriously considering his departure.
Nothing is done yet. No statement, no formal bid, and the transfer window is still open. But when a manager spends pre-season bedding in someone else in your position, the message is usually pretty clear.
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