How did converted right-back Sergi Roberto do for Barcelona in 2016-17? Is there anything that the right-back needs to improve on for the coming season?
If someone would have told me in 2014 that Sergi Roberto would become an integral piece of FC Barcelona, I honestly would have not paid much attention to it. Fast forward to this season, Roberto has become a nearly untouchable part of the Barcelona starting lineup.
Roberto took on a near impossible task this season: replace Dani Alves on the right hand side for FC Barcelona. Although it was an up and down season for Roberto, he made the most of his 39 appearances. The bulk of his appearances this past season came at right back.
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Roberto’s pace and passing on the right flank proved crucial for Barcelona as the season went on. In his first season as a starter Sergi Roberto gave six assists in the league while completing nearly 90% of his passes per who scored.
In addition to that, Roberto only managed one goal this past season. However, it was a goal that will forever be remembered by Culers: the go ahead goal to give Barca a 6-1 lead vs. Paris Saint Germain in Camp Nou to complete a seemingly impossible feat in the UEFA Champions League. On top of that, Roberto proved important once again in the Bernabeu Clasico, leading the charge on Messi’s eventual go ahead goal.
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In 2016-17 Sergi Roberto was not perfect, but when he was finally given the chance to shine he made the most out of it. This coming season he will no doubt be a key player for Barcelona and with his talent and work ethic, the sky is a limit.