Ansu Fati is clearly one of the most compelling FC Barcelona players out on loan this season. After struggling to maintain fitness and regain his form in the last few seasons, the winger agreed to go to the Premier League and join De Zerbi’s highly exciting project at Brighton and Hove Albion.
However, playing opportunities have been difficult to come by for the youngster, especially in the Premier League, in his changed circumstances.
Fati has impressed in some of the appearances he has made this season, but more importantly, it is also becoming increasingly evident that De Zerbi has a clear plan for the youngster.
De Zerbi’s plan for Fati
According to SPORT, the ultimate objective of De Zerbi with Ansu Fati seems to be to improve his physical condition and to let him play and enjoy football once again.
However, the Italian knows that Fati is not yet ready to play two games a week and thus is managing his game time with special care. His recent comments indicated that Fati needs to grow more before becoming a fixed starter in any big team.
Fati’s adaptation in Brighton is going relatively well but is particularly challenging both because of the demands of the Premier League and Brighton’s own playing style.
De Zerbi asks his forwards for defensive work and dynamism in attack and is also making things easy for Fati by playing him behind the striker instead of on the wing.
Greater role in Europa League
Right now, Fati is getting a greater role in the Europa League than in the Premier League, and the youngster appears mostly in the second half in the latter competition. His performances are becoming increasingly better, and in the last match against Everton, he got 22 minutes, in which he shone by beating his opponents several times in one-on-one situations.
The 21-year-old Barcelona loanee has seven Premier League appearances up to now, but none of them as a starter. However, he has started all three games in the Europa League but played only one full match. In total, the youngster has played 14 games, scoring three goals and giving one assist with Brighton.
