Barcelona's plan for Denis Suarez's gradual progression

Barcelona's plan for Denis Suarez's gradual progression

The midfielder is following the necessary steps to become a key part of the first team

Denis Suarez has been coveted by Luis Enrique ever since his first year on loan at Sevilla was up. FIFA’s transfer ban prevented him returning sooner and he spent a season with Villarreal. His progress at El Madrigal was closely followed by Robert Fernandez. Barça had a number of reports on the player, whose development was studied with rigour by Luis Enrique with the confidence that Denis will become a vital player in the coming years. 

“The manager is really happy with him,” Robert Fernandez said in a recent interview with Barça TV. Words that were not hollow, but which related to the excellent relationship between player and coach. Luis Enrique rates the midfielder highly, but feels he will have to earn his weight in the team gradually. 

Denis played a lot at the start, replacing the injured Andres Iniesta in August. But he’s fallen out of the side since the defeat to Alaves. His absence has not been a punishment, though, as is the case with Aleix Vidal. Luis Enrique understood that he shouldn’t expose the player to too much responsibility too soon. 

Luis Enrique still encourages Denis in training to keep his moral high, despite the blow of not playing a minute in the Champions League yet. Denis, he said, would return and he has. He played well in the games at Balaidos and Mestalla off the bench and has shown his character in adverse situations. He’s responded. He’s not hidden. He’s asked for the ball, dribbled and played without fear and Luis Enrique feels he’s at the right level. 

In the Catalan Super Cup he controlled the team’s play. While Andre Gomes continues to have problems understating the way to play his position in the Blaugrana midfield, Denis already appears to have learnt and learnt well. Against Granada he’s one of the options to replace Iniesta, although Arda Turan is another possibility Luis Enrique is weighing up. 

Regardless of that, Denis remains a footballer who Luis Enrique really appreciates. He’s a long-term project and was not just signed to solve immediate problems. 

The player understands his situation and will take advantage of the chances he gets, aware of the difficulty in consolidating a place in the Barça team. He will never forget what it’s cost him to make it at the club of his dreams and knows the hard work to triumph is still ongoing. Each minute he plays is treasure and his attitude, whether starting, on the bench or not in the squad, has satisfied Luis Enrique. 

His reference is Iniesta and he knows that Frank Rijkaard, once upon a time, also managed the Barça captain’s minutes. Before becoming a legend at the club, Iniesta had to work in silence and avoid any signs of impatience. 

Denis is behaving with intelligence, following the steps laid out by the coaching staff and the sporting director. Robert Fernandez says he’s an example of a player with Barça DNA and he’s a bet for a regular midfield role at the club in the future. 

He is prepared for new challenges. One which would especially excite him would be to have minutes at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, the club he left to join Barça B, despite Txiki Begiristain seeing him as a City player in the short-term. City didn’t have Pep Guardiola then, though. So Denis moved to Barça, impressed and after journeys to Sevilla and Villarreal has returned to the Camp Nou first team. 

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