adminBARCELONA begin the defence of their La Liga crown on Sunday amid doubts over the strength of their backline, Neymar’s adaptation to European football and how new coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino will perform.Argentine Martino was a surprise choice to replace Tito Vilanova, after Pep Guardiola’s former assistant suddenly announced he was to step down due to ill health just before the start of the pre-season a litle over three weeks ago.
The 50-year-old moved from Lionel Messi’s former club Newell’s Old Boys to his first European post as a disciple of the club’s possession-based style of football.
Although relatively unknown in Spain, his low-key approach appears to have won over the senior figures in the dressing room.
“He is a leader, capable, well-prepared and experienced,” midfielder Xavi told newspaper Sport this week. “He has very clear ideas and is very precise in what he wants.
“We are recovering a little the intensity and rhythm that perhaps for diverse reasons we lost towards the end of last season.
“The philosophy remains the same.”
Martino takes charge of a settled and experienced side who equalled the league record points haul of 100 to win the title last season, their fourth in five years, and little has changed in terms of personnel.
Striker David Villa has left for Atletico Madrid and midfielder Thiago Alcantara for Bayern Munich, but the €57 million capture of young Brazil forward Neymar promises plenty of excitement up front.
The 21-year-old has scored a couple of goals in pre-season friendlies and looked lively linking up with his teammates, albeit against mediocre opposition.
How the slightly-built Neymar will fare in more physically-demanding matches remains to be seen as Barca persist with a forward line consisting of pint-sized technical wizards with Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and Messi completing the strike force.
He is still a kid,” Barca and Brazil defender Dani Alves told Mundo Deportivo, as he asked for fans to be patient.
“Neymar has come excited at the prospect of learning from the best in the world, and with this enthusiasm and attitude it is hard to see things going badly. He is quite humble. If he isn’t, then he has come to the wrong place.”
Cesc Fabregas continues to search for a settled role within the team, but it is Barca’s failure to land a central defender which has captured most of the pre-season headlines.
The Catalans tried and failed to lure Brazil’s Thiago Silva away from Paris St Germain and have been told by Chelsea and Liverpool respectively that David Luiz and Daniel Agger will not be moving either.-Soccernet.
Online Reporter