‘A total leader’… Rafael Marquez heaps massive praise on ‘enthusiastic’ Barcelona player | OneFootball

FC Barcelona might have lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad in a disappointing away game at the Reale Arena but there is nothing that would take away their impressive start to the season under Hansi Flick so far. 11 wins from 13 league games is certainly a start to be proud of.

There have been different players who have really stepped up under the German coach this season. Players like Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have turned it around with regards to their previous campaigns but the other important facet has been the emergence of youngsters.

Marc Casado, in particular, is one player who has made the step up from the Barcelona reserve team to the first team and has dominated his position with utmost confidence. The Spanish defensive midfielder has been the solution to Barcelona’s pivot woes since the departure of Sergio Busquets a season and a half ago.

Casado’s game underwent a transformational change last season under Rafael Marquez at Barcelona Atletic last season, where he was the captain. The Mexican coach built his team around the 21-year-old and as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, he now has huge words of praise for his former player.

Marquez defines Casado as “a total leader for wanting to succeed, who has earned to be where he is with his work.” Speaking about his success in the first team, here is what the coach had to say:

“Casadó is very competitive, and Flick, from the first moment he saw him, decided to keep him. You have to give him credit for making that choice and for having the courage to give these young players a role. What sets them apart is giving them the chance, that’s the Barça method — having someone in the final stages of football development who believes in the young players and gives them the opportunity.”

Marquez then went on to elaborate on one facet of Casado that has been evident even in the first team so far this season. He said:

“With Casadó, Barça Atlètic was one team, and without him, the team was different; he was very important both on and off the field.”

The Mexican coach then went on to highlight why the 21-year-old Barcelona first-team gem reminded him of himself. Marquez continued:

“Casadó reminded me of myself in terms of attitude, character, and the desire to improve every day, giving his best in every match and training with a very competitive, winning mentality.”

“He insisted on making the most of the opportunity to be with the B team, even though it was hard to be with both teams due to time and distance.”

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Marquez then finally went on to highlight the scope of improvement in Casado’s game and was confident that the 21-year-old would get better and also labeled him as an ‘enthusiastic’ player. He said:

“He’s very young and has things to work on, although his confidence level allows him to do things that we might not have seen before. He’s so enthusiastic that he tries to cover a lot of space; he’s very dynamic and sometimes drifts out of position because he wants to be everywhere. He needs to be more positional at times, and little by little, he’s understanding that.”

Marquez’s words showcase immense knowledge of Casado’s game and someone who truly admires what the 21-year-old brings to the table. Under Hansi Flick, it is safe to say that the Spaniard, who has been called up to the senior Spain national team, has improved his positional understanding.

Luis de la Fuente’s call is a reward for the hard work and immense quality that Casado has shown so far this season. If he continues in a similar trajectory, the sky’s the limit for him and let’s wait and see how it plays out.