Bradley Barcola, 22-year-old winger for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team, opened up in a lengthy interview with Le Parisien. He talked about his new status and the new treatment he is receiving from his opponents, with more two-man catches in particular. He assures us that he has to reinvent himself with each match by varying a lot, but that it’s much harder now that all eyes are on him.
Barcola “ Teams come with two or even three defenders on my side”
“Being in the spotlight also means being more closely watched by opponents. Do you find that defenders pay more attention to your performances?
I’m starting to see that, yes. That was already the case at the end of the season, and even more so since the start of the new season. Teams come to my side with two or even three defenders, and it’s a lot more complicated. I need to bring variety to the game: I need to break through, play one-twos, use other people’s calls and make long passes. That’s even more important today.
Barcola “ In the Champions League, it’s more complicated”.
Do you have a match in mind to illustrate these difficulties this season?
(He reflects) In the Champions League, it’s more complicated. In general, the defenders are more experienced, and there’s often a midfielder to help defend, which makes the task more difficult. I find I have fewer balls to negotiate, too. But in Ligue 1… Maybe in Reims, where even when I tried to push the ball forward, the central defender came to cover. It wasn’t easy.
Of course, the opposition perceived Barcola’s weight offensively. They weren’t going to let him do that forever, and that shows two things. The first is that the player has made his mark. If he’s under greater scrutiny, it’s because he’s hurt defences, and as a result, he’s going to be more marked by opponents in the approach to matches and on the pitch.
The second is that, by focusing more on Barcola, our opponents are inevitably leaving other areas of the pitch untouched. With Ousmane Dembélé also under close scrutiny, there are more open areas on the pitch.
As far as Luis Enrique is concerned, it’s up to the players to move well to create uncertainty for their opponents. Barcola has understood his role and now we know that he can attack on his own, but that he can also get others to play and try one-twos, which makes the design of a match even more interesting.
For the moment, it’s hard to see the full extent of Barcola’s abilities. He’s still lacking in finishing accuracy, whether it’s with a goal or a pass. Once he’s got it right, he’ll be both irresistible and decisive.
