BARCELONA – Yusuf Demir became the official candidate to succeed Pedri at Koeman’s Barça on Saturday. Eleven months ago, on September 27, 2020, the Canarian, whom the coach had advised on a transfer in his first talk, made his league debut against Villarreal at the Camp Nou, replacing Coutinho in the 70th minute. and presenting a figure that ended up becoming indisputable. Assuming the same with Demir seems an outrageous audacity … But the Austrian, just in case, took the first step.
The presentation of the young Demir coincided in San Mamés with the urgent despair of an overwhelmed Barça, who was suffering a real ordeal that denied the good image shown in the league premiere a week before in front of Real Sociedad. Bold and cheeky though barely transcendent he enjoyed half an hour in which Koeman’s team rebelled against the depression, saved a draw and managed, even if only in part, to park the speeches. apocalyptics that were surely already being prepared around him.
Between discreet and mediocre for an hour long and fleetingly furious the last twenty minutes, Barcelona left a clear sign of what can be expected of him this season. If Braithwaite had not missed a goal at the beginning or if the referee had not annulled what Araújo had achieved by rubbing the break, the chronicles would probably have been much more lenient, and even praiseworthy, with the football performance. azulgrana, who saw them and wished them to resist the pressure of this detached Athletic who returned to the land of mortals.
On the back of an excellent Memphis, who beyond the goal, goal, who avoided defeat completed a performance worthy of what is expected of him and supported in the awakening, late but in time, of a De Jong ready to take the gallons, Barça has plenty of elements to face the season with the highest aspirations in a league that has only just begun.
Koeman will have the collar of a defense too weak when overwhelmed by the opponent and will have to present his credentials 1:00 Griezmann who passed dangerously silently through San Mamés. Gone forever from the scene Leo Messi is expected to shout from the team that enjoyed both the Real Sociedad and suffered against Athletic … And also, the new bets of a willing coach to continue betting on young people.
It was Pedri first, Araújo and Mingueza later and Ilaix Moriba later last season. Now it is suspected the moment of Nico and Demir, the boy who arrived in silence from Vienna to be the third Austrian to wear Barça. The first was called Ernst Löwinger and barely played four friendly matches in 1934; Hansi Krankl meant an explosion of joy in 1978, closing his first season with 36 goals to turn off later.
If this young man whom Piqué dared to compare with Messi for his ability in the irrigation system, achieves the prestige shown by Pedri who began his impromptu holiday this Sunday, Barcelona will be able to be satisfied. However, waiting for next weekend’s match against Getafe remains between doubts and excitement.