FC Barcelona: Why Fans Should Not Take Sergio Busquets for Granted
Just a few days ago, a humorous rumor broke out claiming that Real Madrid is planning a bid for Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets.
Any fan of either team will immediately realize that there's no chance the rumor is true, yet it does show the impact that Busquets has had on world football.
Playing at the same club as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and such has definitely kept the lanky Catalan out of the limelight for his illustrious career. In fact, his name is rarely mentioned when referring to La Blaugrana.
However, fans must realize that taking Busquets for granted is a big mistake.
As shocking as it may sound, Sergio Busquets may be the most important player for Barcelona.
Why, you ask? What makes Busquets so vital and deserving of praise?
Continue reading to find out.
Incredible Durability
1 of 4In the world of football, durability is just as important for a player as ability.
And when it comes to durability, very few surpass Busquets.
While only 24 years old, the Catalan has already appeared in over 150 games for Barcelona (via fcbarcelona).
Surprisingly, Busquets finished last season with the second-most games played, only two behind Messi.
The mere number of games played does not truly show how durable the midfielder is. Sergio Busquets rarely suffers injury, and when injuries do take place, the Catalan rarely sees time off the pitch.
For a defensive midfielder, injuries are just a part of the game. This shows just how shocking it is that Busquets rarely misses a game.
The last major injury Busquets suffered was back in February, when he collided with Real Sociedad’s Carlos Martinez. The knock looked gruesome, yet Busquets recovered quickly, needing only a few stitches (via fcbarcelona).
It is very apparent that Busquets is a machine for Barcelona. He takes very good care of himself and which makes sure that he is always available for the club.
The 24-year-old has a long career ahead of him, and he shows no signs of ever slowing down. The club would be wise to rest him a bit more, but why don’t they?
More on that later.
Wonderful Vision and Ability to Read the Game
2 of 4On top of Busquet’s durability, he also possesses tremendous skill in the middle of the pitch.
Sergio Busquets has both wonderful vision and a keen ability to read games. Most fans will notice that in every game, the Catalan just seems to be in the right place at the right time.
This is no mere coincidence: Busquets is the best defensive midfielder in the world due to his willingness to work hard.
The lanky Catalan reads games far ahead of the play that is happening and puts himself in wonderful positions to both disrupt opponents and open up space for a teammate.
But the Spanish international's vision is deeper than that of most players.
Sergio Busquets can pass the ball with talent far beyond that of most defensive midfielders. Just last game, in the Catalan derby he delivered a beautiful pass to a streaking Pedro that most players in his position would not even have seen as possible.
But those two abilities would be useless if Busquets were not so calm. It is rare to see him get frustrated, as he is one of the calmest players in world football.
In short, the Barcelona midfield would not be the same without the 24-year-old.
If Xavi is the brain of Barcelona, then Busquets is the engine. He is the pivot that links the defense with the offense, and seemingly every play begins with Busquets.
Sergio Busquets Rarely Disappoints
3 of 4Managers love having players they know they can count on. Luckily for Barcelona, Sergio Busquets is just that.
Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola said it best: “He never plays badly.” These are strong words coming from one of the most successful managers in club history (via fcbarcelona).
Clearly Guardiola has seen Busquets from his very beginnings with the club. The former Blaugrana boss put so much faith in the midfielder and saw every performance.
Who better to speak on Busquet’s reliability than Guardiola?
Guardiola is right in his assessment. Very rarely does Busquets play badly. He is always the one performer that fans can rely on seeing at his best in every game.
Not only does Busquets always show up for games, but it is shocking when he makes a mistake. So much praise is given to Xavi for his mistake-free play, but Busquets is the man who makes the fewest errors for La Blaugrana.
At such an important position, reliability must be present. This could easily be why fans rarely see someone start in place of Busquets.
When you have the luxury of a durable player who can always be trusted to play his best, that player must be used.
Barcelona has made the most of Busquets’ talents, and there is certainly more to come.
The Importance of Sergio Busquets
4 of 4At a club like Barcelona, it is very easy for Sergio Busquets to go relatively unnoticed.
However, he may very well be the most important player in the current squad.
It sounds insane to claim that Messi or Xavi is not the most important, but Busquets may be in front of both stars. His weekly performances control the entire midfield with stellar play, as he is the engine that runs Barcelona.
Busquets is one of those players who do the dirty work. Sadly, those players do not get the recognition they often deserve in world football.
But without Busquets, Barcelona would not be the same.
We have seen this season what happens when Busquets is not in the lineup. The midfielder missed two games in the Champions League due to a red card and was clearly missed (via Guardian).
When Busquets is not on the field, the play seems scattered, Barca do not keep possession as well and the defense looks lost. La Blaugrana has grown so accustomed to his presence that the play suffers when he is not there.
Just like every car needs an engine to perform, Barcelona needs Sergio Busquets if the club is to play at the consistent level that viewers have grown accustomed to seeing.
Many fans often wonder who will replace Xavi and Puyol, but the biggest question the club may ever face is that of Busquets’ eventual replacement.
It is known that Sergio Busquets was always the first name on the team sheet for former manager Pep Guardiola. Current manager Tito Vilanova has continued the trend by playing Busquets whenever available.
Both managers make it clear that Busquets is essential to this Barcelona team. La Blaugrana are the most vulnerable when Busquets does not feature.
While it is easy to say that Messi is vital for Barcelona, the same must be said for the lanky midfielder.
Cules everywhere should praise the 24-year-old for his constant dedication and performances for Barcelona.
How important do you think Sergio Busquets is? Is he essential for Barcelona to continue winning trophies? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and comments below.
Tre’ Atkinson, The Catalan Blood of Bleacher Report. Follow @TreAtkinson
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