Barcelona’s Right-Back Puzzle: Hansi Flick Turns a Problem Position into a Tactical Laboratory
Barcelona’s right-back role has become one of the most unpredictable positions in European football. Rather than relying on a settled specialist, Hansi Flick has used the flank to test players from different backgrounds, turning a long-standing squad concern into a tactical experiment. The result is an open competition featuring centre-backs, midfielders and emerging academy talents—and plenty of uncertainty over who will eventually make the position their own.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, four players have appeared at right-back across Barcelona’s first 15 official matches of the season. Eric García has been used most often, starting or featuring in the role in seven games. Jules Koundé has played there four times, while young players Xavi Espart and Brian Fariñas have each made two appearances.
Those figures underline the unusual nature of Flick’s approach. Apart from natural right-back João Cancelo, the four players in this rotation did not develop primarily as full-backs. Yet each offers qualities that can help Barcelona solve a particular match-day problem. The position is no longer simply a matter of choosing the next name on a depth chart; it has become a flexible part of the team’s tactical plan.
Why Barcelona’s Right-Back Role Is So Difficult to Predict
Barcelona have a long history of players adapting to right-back, but the current situation feels especially fluid. In previous eras, names such as Eusebio, Goikoetxea and Celades filled the role, while Luis Enrique, Gabri and Sergi Roberto also demonstrated how players from other positions could contribute on the flank. Flick’s version of the experiment is broader, involving both established defenders and young midfielders still developing their first-team identities.
The key question is not only who starts in the next match. It is also what Barcelona need from the position on a given day. A more defensive opponent may call for a player who can protect the back line and defend one-on-one. Against a team that presses aggressively, Flick may prefer someone comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and helping build attacks through midfield.
Koundé and Eric García: Centre-Backs on the Right
Koundé’s journey to right-back has not been straightforward. When he joined Barcelona, his ambition was to establish himself in central defence, the position where he had impressed with Sevilla. His move was connected to assurances from then-coach Xavi Hernández that he would have opportunities at centre-back. Earlier interest from Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had also placed him in a full-back role, a prospect that did not initially match Koundé’s preferred position.
Over time, however, Koundé has become more open to playing wide. His pace, strength and ability to defend in space make him a useful option against quick wingers, while his experience at centre-back helps him understand when to tuck inside and support the central defenders. His development shows how a player’s view of his best position can change as a team’s needs—and his own strengths—become clearer.
Eric García is also a centre-back by trade, but he is accustomed to moving between roles. Flick has shown confidence in his ability to operate on the right, and the coach had already indicated near the end of the previous season that he considered García an important option there. His passing and positional awareness can help Barcelona maintain possession, although playing wide asks him to defend different spaces from those he normally covers in the middle.
Espart and Fariñas: Midfield Skills on the Flank
Espart and Fariñas represent a more surprising development. Both have midfield backgrounds, and their use at right-back highlights Flick’s interest in players who can contribute to Barcelona’s build-up as well as defend. For a team that often wants to control possession, a full-back capable of moving into central areas can create extra passing options and help establish numerical advantages in midfield.
Flick has reportedly been impressed by Espart’s qualities, even comparing the youngster’s potential profile with Joshua Kimmich, the versatile former Bayern Munich star. Espart’s close control, passing accuracy and awareness of space give him tools to adapt to several roles. Playing at right-back could also accelerate his development by exposing him to different defensive and attacking responsibilities.
Fariñas, meanwhile, emerged as an unexpected option against Alavés. His performance was convincing enough for Flick to use him again in the Champions League meeting with Aston Villa. The decision was notable because Barcelona had other ways to adjust their defensive line, including the possibility of using Alejandro Balde on the left. Repeating the experiment suggested that Fariñas had earned genuine trust rather than simply filling an emergency vacancy.
What the Right-Back Competition Means for Barcelona
At present, García, Koundé, Espart and Fariñas appear to be among Flick’s leading options, but making a firm prediction about the long-term starter is difficult. Selection may depend on form, opposition and the availability of other defenders. Injuries, fixture congestion and the demands of competing in La Liga and Europe could also influence how often Flick rotates the position.
The competition could bring a wider benefit. If Espart or Fariñas proves capable of handling first-team football at right-back, García and Koundé may be able to spend more time in their preferred central-defensive positions. That would give Flick greater flexibility at the back without requiring every solution to come from a new signing. For the young players, meanwhile, accepting an unfamiliar role may offer a valuable route into the senior team.
There are risks. A midfielder adapting to full-back must learn to defend the touchline, track overlapping runners and judge when to advance. A centre-back playing wide may be less naturally suited to attacking one-on-one situations. Flick’s challenge is to balance those limitations against the benefits each player brings, rather than treating versatility as a substitute for specialist experience.
A Familiar Barcelona Problem with a New Twist
The search for stability at right-back has troubled Barcelona since Dani Alves left. The club has tried a succession of options, including Douglas, Aleix Vidal, Nélson Semedo and Sergiño Dest, while Óscar Mingueza also filled the role without establishing himself as a lasting answer. Some players offered useful spells, but none recreated the consistency and influence associated with Alves at his peak.
Barcelona have often relied on adaptable players during that search. What makes the current period different is the range of profiles involved: experienced centre-backs, technically gifted midfielders and academy prospects are all being considered for the same position. Rather than presenting a clear hierarchy, Flick’s choices suggest that right-back may remain a match-specific role for some time.
For supporters, that uncertainty makes the team harder to predict but also creates a compelling story. Barcelona’s right-back position is both a weakness to manage and an opportunity to discover new solutions. Whether Flick eventually settles on one player or continues rotating, the experiment will reveal how much tactical flexibility the squad can offer—and which emerging talent is ready to turn a temporary opportunity into a permanent place in the team.
