The Barcelona subsidiary has conceded only three goals in the last five games
The Mexican is well above the subsidiary’s central defenders and brings his knowledge to them
Barça Atlètic has become a solvent team with few concessions to its rivals, something really complicated in a subsidiary. But this team has an added value: being trained by one of the best central defenders to have worn the Barça shirt.
Since the wake-up call that led to the 4-3 conceded in Cornellà, the Mexican coach has had a special impact on defensive work. And he is giving his results; In the last five games, Barça Atlètic has only conceded three goals and has overcome fire tests like the one in Murcia, two days ago, in a highly demanding environment and before 28,000 rival fans, a record for the category.
A record that commands respect
242 games as a Barça player spread over seven seasons and 12 titles, including the Champions League in 2006 and 2009, include Rafa Márquez, one of the few footballers to have played in five World Cups. He did it with the ‘tri’ in South Korea and Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.
An impressive track record that earned him the respect of the dressing room from day one and that has not prevented him from being close to his players. As the first coach, he is obviously on top of all the players, but his past leads him to influence especially the center-backs and the defensive system.
Four plants with different characteristics
And without marrying anyone, as evidenced by leaving Chadi Riad on the bench for two games. The brand new absolute international with Morocco regained ownership last weekend and highly motivated, he scored, strategically, the winning goal against Nàstic.
Márquez put Zalaya, one of the most experienced in the team, against Alcoyano and Murcia in his place, to partner with Pelayo Fernández, who will not be on advice. Those of his mister, and those of his father, Sergio, who also played center-back for Celta. He completes the Alpha Diounkou roster, who has recently moved to the left back and with very good marks.
Only one loss in the last 11 games
The truth is that Barça Atlètic is experiencing one of the sweetest moments of the season, a single point from the play-off places thanks to reaping only one defeat (that of Cornellà at the Dani Jarque Sports City) in the last 11 games.
A streak that should be endorsed in the decisive stretch of the season. The Barça subsidiary, without a doubt, has had more spectacular years than the current one, but it had been years since they showed so much skill or defensive seriousness. With the ‘Kaiser of Michoacán’ at the helm, it couldn’t be otherwise.