When Tito Vilanova officially took over as Barcelona Coach after the Copa del Rey Final, one of his first tasks was to go over a list of transfer targets with sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta. Jordi Alba was on it, so too was Javi Martinez. One player that was not on it was Alex Song.
All this changed with the surprise announcement that Seydou Keita was leaving to join Chinese club Dalian Aerbin, after being given an offer which would see him triple his wages. Suddenly there was a more urgent need to sign a holding midfielder to provide cover for Sergio Busquets. When it emerged Athletic Bilbao were not going to sell Martinez for any less than €40m, a lot of money for someone who was not going to play every week, Song’s name began to emerge.
It was no secret that Song’s role would be to fill in for Busquets when the Spain midfielder needed a rest, and it was also assumed that he may fill in at centre-back occasionally, too, more than likely against teams not known for their attacking prowess.
Few people at Barcelona would have imagined that Song, a midfielder for his whole career, would be playing at centre-back for the most important game of all, against Real Madrid, but that is the situation they find themselves in after Carles Puyol dislocated his elbow against Benfica on Tuesday, and Gerard Pique struggles to recover from a sprain to his left foot he picked up against Sparta Prague.
Cameroonian Song has started just two games in the position, against Sevilla and Granada, and played 80 minutes there against Spartak Moscow. In those three games, against less than formidable opposition, Barca let in four goals and, although they ended up winning all of those games, they did so only thanks to late goals and circumstances going in their favour.
Song was wildly out of position for both of Sevilla’s goals a week ago and at times looked as if he was not sure where he was supposed to be playing. As all good Coaches do, Vilanova has supported his player in public. After the Sevilla game he said Song ‘had a great game and was on top form’ and before it talked up his qualities as a centre-back: “We bought him because we know he can play as a centre-back, if he couldn’t play there, he wouldn’t have signed him.”
But actions speak louder than words and Song was dropped in favour of Puyol for the Benfica game. The fact that Pique has been taking double training sessions in his fight to get fit for the Madrid game and could still yet play with a pain killing injection is hardly a vote of confidence for the Cameroonian either.
Song has also been given specific training sessions in how to play in the role, the Barca way. As Alexis Sanchez said last week: “when you join Barca you have to learn how to play all over again.”
In no position is this more true than in central defence. As a member of Barcelona’s coaching staff described it: “Playing centre-back at Barcelona the most difficult tasks for any player to have to learn to do.” His words are reinforced by Pique: “You have to think about constructing the play, as well as defending the opposition’s attacks 40 metres from your own goal. I was brought up to play that way and taught how to do that, but I recognise that it’s not easy for the players who have just arrived here.”
Playing midfielders at centre-back is not a revolutionary idea at Barcelona. Javier Mascherano made his name as a central midfielder but only several months into his career at the Camp Nou began learning a new trade as centre-half. It is one he learnt relatively quickly, and was entrusted in that role for the Champions League Final in 2011, He still makes the odd mistake – he was at fault for Real Madrid’s opening goal in the second leg of the Supercopa de Espana – but makes up for it with his ball playing skills, exemplified by his inch perfect pass for Pedro’s goal against Madrid at the Camp Nou. He has also benefited from playing alongside an experienced Barca defender in Pique or Puyol, but Song, meanwhile, has been thrown in at the deep end, forced to learn next to the Argentine, significantly less experienced in the role than the two Spain centre-backs.
Of course, such is the strength of Vilanova’s side in keeping the ball – they have averaged 65 per cent possession in each League game so far this season – Barcelona may still get away lightly with their defensive frailties. But Madrid are bound to create some chances in the game, and the recent form of Cristiano Ronaldo should also concern Barca. There was a time when the Portuguese could have been accused of disappearing in Clasicos, but he has scored in each of his last four against Barcelona, and he goes into Sunday’s game on back-to-back hat-tricks.
Vilanova, therefore, will be praying that Song is a quick learner, and that he won’t receive a baptism of fire in his first Clasico at centre-back.
