FC Barcelona's 2024/25 season so far has been spectacular. Be it their attack force, midfield trio, or defense backline, all three compartments have responded brilliantly as a unit, contributing to their success so far. Although the club's frontline is usually the one garnering the media spotlight, Barca's defensive work has been one of the finest this season, proving vital for their season success.
Veteran defensive ace expresses his desire to bag titles with FC Barcelona
With the full-backs contributing significantly on the flanks and the center-back duo tricking opponents with their high-line tactics, Barcelona's backline has been significantly impressive. Most importantly, their offside traps have been spot on, having caught their opponents a staggering 93 times this season. While the whole backline has had significant contributions in its implementation, veteran star Inigo needs to be given special praise for this.
Although the 33-year-old center-back isn't credited enough for his brilliance, Inigo's resurgence at Barca has been one of the biggest positives this season. Speaking on his defensive duties recently, Inigo mentioned,
""We are the ones who hold the team from the back. It’s a task that seems easy, but with our style, with the line so high up, sometimes it’s challenging, and you have to stay very focused throughout the entire game.""Inigo Martinez
However, so far, his duo with Barca boss Flick has been detrimental to the opposition clubs, who aren't unable to crack their offside trap. In their important matchday against Real Madrid, recently, even superstar forward Kylian Mbappe didn't have an answer to Barca's tactics, ending up having 2 goals disallowed and 8 times being offside. Stressing the importance of these offside traps, Inigo mentioned,
""We do a lot of damage every time we recover the ball, and the fact that opponents are often caught offside tends to be challenging for them. You could see it in the last game. For us, it’s about enjoying it.""Inigo Martinez
So far this season, FC Barcelona has been sensational so far, and the way they have performed has definitely exceeded everyone's expectations. However, much of the progress so far would mean, essentially, if the side manages to continue its momentum going forward, winning titles. Veteran star Inigo expressed his desire for the same, saying,
""Me winning a title with Barça is overdue. It's time.""Inigo Martinez
Up next, Barca is scheduled to play against Espanyol, having a brilliant opportunity to continue their dominance at the tabletop position. Barca fans hope that the side will dominate the opposition yet again, further cementing their chances of winning the La Liga title this season.