[Sport] Midfielders go on the attack

[#Steeven.™]

Koeman demanded more offensive participation from his midfielders. The Dutch coach considers that Barcelona needs the core team to contribute about ten goals per season and in recent matches the players in these regions have taken a step forward in attack. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri know that the coach has given them carte blanche to function with ease at the top.

Against Granada, at Nuevo Los Cármenes, these two players raised their hands. More than half of his passes were in the opposite field, 25 in the case of the Canary and 28 in the Dutch. In addition, 90 percent of the balls that were distributed reached a good port, with hardly any inaccuracies.

Frenkie de Jong shot once and Pedri came close to surprising the rival goalkeeper early in the game. He had the last dribble left over. Still, the two midfielders are keen to fatten up their shooting numbers and keep Koeman happy.

In the case of the Dutchman, his ease of getting the ball played from behind is a double-edged sword. The Barça coach values his predisposition to help in defensive tasks. In fact, he has even lined him up as center back on occasion. However, Ronald Koeman has made it clear that he wants the international to have better numbers in attack.

De Jong's reconversion will not be easy, since the midfielder has never been characterized by his success in the face of the rival goal. His best season at the level of his director was 2018-19, with Ajax, in which he signed three goals. He has only scored eight goals in his entire professional career in club competition.

He signed for Barcelona because of his finesse with the ball and not because of his aim, although the demands of the script force the Dutchman to reinvent himself.

Pedri, for his part, has established himself as one of the sensations of this first leg of the Barça season. The Canarian footballer scored four goals in the entire 2019-20 campaign with Las Palmas and now has three as a Barça player. His impudence and skill make him one of the best offensive arguments on the team.

Ronald Koeman assumes that, because of his youth, he cannot give a regular performance. The demand with the Tenerife is relative, but the coach has given him minutes and confidence so that he can grow calmly on the pitch.

 

Pjanic, another profile
The Bosnian midfielder has, on his role, more offensive characteristics than the rest of his teammates in midfield. The signing of this season has always contributed goals with Lyon, Roma or Juventus, although he has not yet made his debut with Barcelona. Currently, Pjanic is not one of the main options for the coach in the starting eleven, although the club remains convinced that he has been a necessary addition.