La Liga: Barcelona adding steel to the style

Last Wednesday evening, Barcelona were 1-0 up and dominating their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at home to Villarreal.

Then early in the second half, in almost their first attack of the game, the visitors equalised when midfielder Manu Trigueros’ long-range shot flew past blaugrana goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

The Camp Nou was momentarily stunned. Within 106 seconds, Andres Iniesta had put the hosts ahead, and 15 minutes later Gerard Pique headed in a third to ensure Barca are in confident mood ahead of March 4 second leg.

Such immediate reaction from conceding a goal has recently become a habit for Barca. Last weekend they were cruising, 2-0 up when Athletic Bilbao’s Mikel Rico cut their lead. Within five minutes Barca had scored twice to go 4-2 ahead and kill the game. Two weeks ago Villarreal actually took a 2-1 lead at the Camp Nou in La Liga, but four minutes later Barca led 3-2. Three days before that, Atletico Madrid twice went ahead in the first 30 minutes in a Copa quarter-final second leg. By half-time, Barca were 3-2 in front and practically qualified for the next round.

Asked about all these comebacks after Wednesday’s game, coach Luis Enrique said such mental strength had not arrived by accident.

“Of course this is worked on,” Luis Enrique said. “Why do you think we have a psychologist? Sometimes this works for you, other times no.”

For many blaugrana-watchers this was an introduction to Joaquin Valdes, the first full-time mental preparation specialist on the Camp Nou’s coaching staff.

An international level judo referee, as well as fully certified sports psychologist, he first entered football at his hometown club of Sporting Gijon over a decade ago.

On taking the Barca B job in 2008, Enrique, who also started out at Sporting, hired his fellow Asturian. They have been inseparable since, through ups and downs at Roma and Celta Vigo, and this season’s return to Camp Nou. Valdes now watches all training sessions and games first hand, and regularly advises Enrique on the sideline. He also reportedly helps his boss prepare responses to likely questions in advance of each press conference.

Enrique’s approach was widely questioned just weeks ago, when the coach refused to back down after a much-publicised training ground row with superstar Lionel Messi. Valdes even became involved in a widely-reported argument with the extra-sensitive Messi right after early January’s 0-1 defeat at Real Sociedad. Back then the team’s mental state looked far from ideal. But Barca have since won their next 11 games in all competitions — including yesterday’s 5-0 La Liga thrashing of Levante. Messi’s hat-trick yesterday means he has scored 13 goals in that time. A corner turned?

In recent seasons, this super-talented side has shown psychological weakness at key moments. Jose Mourinho eventually won his clasico battles with Pep Guardiola. In 2013, Barca were broken completely by Bayern Munich, overrun 7-0 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals. On last season’s final day they were 1-0 up at home to Atletico Madrid, needing just to hang on to win the title. The clearly less skilful but mentally stronger Atletico equalised from a corner and were crowned champions. Just last October, Barca took an early lead in the season’s first clasico at Real Madrid, having not conceded even once in their first eight games. They then crumbled after Madrid hit back just before half-time, and ended up beaten 3-1. But that was the last time Messi and company have blown a lead.

The remainder of the season will test the apparent newfound mental resilience instilled by Valdes and Luis Enrique. Manchester City and Madrid again should pose stiff challenges in the next few weeks.

Still, the signs are this year’s Barca are made of pretty stern stuff.