Misfiring playmaker’s form starting to become a major concern for Barcelona

Misfiring playmaker’s form starting to become a major concern for BarcelonaIf Barcelona’s defeat to PSG midweek was not worrying enough, the Catalans collapsed by a 4-1 margin to Sevilla at the weekend and there is now a serious cloud of negativity around the team.After all, it is perhaps the lowest phase they have seen since Hansi Flick took over. Unlike last season’s slump, where they dominated but failed to convert, this time they have looked outplayed and outdone in both of their last two games.AdvertisementAgainst Sevilla, in particular, almost every player in the Blaugrana side looked far from their best. While it was a one-off for many, the situation is far more concerning for names like Dani Olmo, who have looked lacklustre from the beginning of the season.A worry for FlickFlick has always counted on Olmo as a player who can make a serious difference to the team’s dynamics on the field and has continually valued him only only for his footballing IQ but his comfort in tight spaces and elite finishing.Since the beginning of the season, however, Olmo has simply not hit the mark, and his lack of form despite regular playing time is now getting worrying.Olmo has been poor this season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)AdvertisementPlaying as the attacking midfielder, the Spaniard is seen as Barcelona’s connector between midfield and attack and is critical in making transitions and opening opposition defences.Olmo has, however, looked invisible on the field for a long time now, and his display against Sevilla was perhaps his worst of the season.Fermin Lopez has clearly overtaken Olmo on Flick’s pecking order this season, and only an injury to the former allowed him a regular place in the starting XI of back-to-back games.Even that, however, has not helped him find his rhythm. In four starts and eight appearances for Barcelona in La Liga this season, the 27-year-old has one goal and two assists to his name and has created three big chances.AdvertisementOlmo’s numbers, however, are nowhere close to the output expected of him, especially given the massive investment the club made in his signing.While Fermin is expected to be back after the international break, Olmo’s poor start to the season is becoming a major concern for Barcelona.