Don't put too much stock into Barça's preseason
It's true that I don't know Luis Enrique personally. But I'd say he will be looking forward to the end of preseason and the Super Cups, and the start of the league season. Because I have the impression that, at least for a team like Barcelona, preseason is nothing short of an ordeal.
In these games, the club has a lot to lose and little to gain. And it is at a disadvantage in several respects. For example, they often face teams - especially the English - long before La Liga starts - and, therefore, sides more prepared to begin. Also in the past few years, for one reason or another, they are usually missing a lot of players. Bravo, Alves, Mascherano, Mathieu, Adriano, Douglas, Aleix Vidal, Turan, Messi and Neymar. Yes, you heard right. 10 players. And none of these 10 could play on Sunday in Florence. And usually around five or six of these would be starting for the club in key games towards the end of the season.
After Fiorentina, Barcelona have one more friendly, against Roma in the Joan Gamper on Wednesday. Then the European Super Cup game and two Spanish Super Cup matches. And what have these games served to show? Very little, I think. Whatever Ter Stegen's done, Luis Enrique will already be clear over what he wants to do with the two goalkeepers. Sergi Roberto and Marc Bartra tests at right-back are more out of obligation than necessity, especially if Adriano does not leave. And of one of the questions, should he keep Munir or Sandro with the squad, I would say he had already resolved. And in case anyone doubted what Luis Enrique thought of Sergi Samper, it's now more clear that he doesn't count on him much.
Therefore, we must be very careful when making judgements about what happens in preseason. What we've seen these days is not even remotely what the club will be like during the season. For better or worse - it will be a very different team. So be patient in bad times and calm in good ones. There no rush. Not now, not later. Last season should serve as a lesson. At the start of January, remember, nobody believed they'd win anything.
