‘Barca doing something right’

Javier Mascherano has remarked on the defensive improvement he sees at Barcelona and says critics ‘need to lighten up’ when analysing the team.

The Blaugrana continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 win over Milan in the Champions League, but debate still continues on the team’s control of games and if they are moving away from their philosophy of play.

“We are comforted by the fact that we have done what we set out to do and now we have to make sure we win the group,” reflected Mascherano this week to Barca’s in-house television channel on the win yesterday.

“Changes to our philosophy? This team’s style is marked by players like Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Busquets who never play the long ball because they don’t know how to and have never tried it.

“The question is whether we should reinvent ourselves a little, so that teams have to find other solutions and look for alternatives.

“We are top of La Liga, we are through to the last sixteen of the Champions League, we have won the Spanish Supercup… We must getting some things right.

“People need to lighten up. We are not getting everything wrong, although we are aware that there are some areas that need improving.”

The Argentine was asked if that included the back-line.

“Yes, we are more solid in defence. We’re more practical about it. We need to control the ball a bit better, but we’re winning it back in important places.

“Against Milan the football was more flowing in the first half. But, we do have to learn to control some game situations better.”

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