It’s been a couple of days since but Barcelona’s 7-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid feels like it happened just now. Such was the impact of one performance by Hansi Flick’s team ahead of the dreaded international break.
Although this feeling will now stay with us for a couple of weeks until club football returns, it also makes one feel they cannot wait for club football to return to see what Flick’s team does when they take on their next opposition.
Against Valladolid, Hansi Flick gave yet another La Masia player his debut, offering him the chance to showcase his abilities in the first team after an impressive pre-season. The player in question here is 19-year-old center-back, Sergi Dominguez.
The teenager was ever-present during pre-season for Hansi Flick and the number of injuries in the first-team squad especially in the central defense area has prompted the the German to keep persisting with Dominguez in the first-team squad.
On Saturday, Dominguez replaced the exceptional Pau Cubarsi in the heart of the defense and got around half an hour to close out the game. He was ambitious with the ball at his feet and had a good display.
Speaking after the game about his feelings after making his Barcelona debut as quoted by SPORT, here is what Dominguez had to say:
“Ever since I arrived at Barça I have dreamed of this day. It is an honor and I am very happy. I thank everyone who has made it possible. I have trained hard.”
Like every other player to come through La Masia, the dream is always to play for the Barcelona first team and Dominguez will know how lucky he is to be able to do that. He might not garner the same kind of plaudits as Pau Cubarsi does but the squad needs a player like the 19-year-old.
Dominguez understands Barcelona’s football and looks unflustered in defence but one must see how he performs against the bigger opposition. He held his own against Vinicius Jr. in pre-season against Real Madrid.
Right now, the 19-year-old will get an opportunity or two here and there as Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo continue to recover from their injuries. How he performs in the chances he gets could determine what the future holds for him in the first team.
