Luis Enrique's Barcelona MSN 2014-15 Dominant tactic 3.39 xg 129 GS 23 AG

Luis Enrique’s FC Barcelona (2014/15 Season)

Introduction

After Gerardo Martino's departure, FC Barcelona needed a new manager to bring back their success. Post-Pep Guardiola, the club struggled to maintain its previous dominance, despite retaining many core players.

Luis Enrique stepped in, and within one season, led Barcelona to a treble in 2014/15. This echoed their 2008/09 treble, also under Guardiola. Enrique's era saw the formation of the formidable MSN trio (Messi, Suarez, Neymar), which re-established Barcelona's fear factor in Europe.

Style of Play

Enrique maintained Barcelona's traditional 4-3-3 formation, with the best eleven being:

Bravo

Jordi Alba — Piqué — Mascherano — Alves

Rakitić — Busquets — Iniesta

Neymar — Suárez — Messi

Goalkeeping duties were split, with Marc-André ter Stegen playing in the Champions League and Cup matches, while Claudio Bravo handled league games.

Defensive Style

Barcelona often pressed high to regain possession quickly, preferring to do so in the opponent's half. This high press was spearheaded by Suárez, while Messi conserved energy by participating less in the press. Barcelona aimed to force opponents into long balls, relying on Piqué and Mascherano's aerial skills to regain possession.

Midfielders were instructed to press their counterparts, while forwards pressed defenders, enhancing their trademark counter-pressing. If the initial press failed, they employed a high defensive line to catch attackers offside, often triggered by Enrique's signals from the sideline.

When defending near their penalty box, Enrique introduced a new strategy: relying on seven players to defend while MSN conserved energy for counter-attacks.

Offensive Play

Enrique introduced counter-attacks to Barcelona's style, adding unpredictability to their transitions. With Messi, Suárez, and Neymar's speed, counter-attacks became a lethal weapon, alongside their traditional possession play. Messi played a crucial role, often dropping into midfield to create chances and act as a fourth midfielder.

The team emphasized staying close for short passes and switching play to free players like Jordi Alba and Dani Alves, who frequently advanced to provide width. Piqué, Mascherano, and Busquets maintained a reserved position to secure possession in deeper areas.

Enrique's strategy was simple: defenders and midfielders maintained possession, while forwards played direct and quick football. This balanced approach helped tire out opponents and preserved Barcelona's energy for counter-attacks.

Conclusion

The 2014/15 Barcelona team, with Messi, Suárez, and Neymar, was one of the best ever. They dominated all aspects of the game, leading to their treble win, showcasing a complete and formidable team under Luis Enrique.