No Defence for Gerard Pique Selection at Barcelona with Bartra, Montoya Waiting

Gerard Pique looked, dare we say it, a little out of his depth for Barcelona in the recent El Clasico.

It's very easy to point fingers, of course, and Pique has come in for more criticism than most when things haven't been going to plan for the Blaugrana.

However, the devaluation of his position within the setup is entirely justified.

Forget the "trial by television" nature of analysis from the ill-informed punter, Luis Enrique has very obviously been unhappy with Pique's level of performance this season.

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Why else would Pique have been benched this season perhaps more than any other in recent memory? Draw your own conclusions, but a lack of focus and application are probably two reasons.

They were certainly two things that were sorely lacking in his play at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Forgetting Lucho's evident mistake of playing Jeremy Mathieu at left-back against Real Madrid, why, once again, was Marc Bartra overlooked?

Pique himself admitted he has good competition for places at the back now and hasn't been near his best form:

After Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova and Tata Martino, Luis Enrique is now the fourth Barcelona manager who is seemingly unable to place trust in the young Bartra.

At 23 years of age, and now on the periphery of the Spanish national side, Bartra must be wondering what on earth he has to do to gain a long-term residency in the Barca back line.

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Whenever he has been called upon, which at this juncture is sporadic at best, Bartra has looked composed in the role and every inch the type of central defender Barca require. Commanding, intelligent and great on the ball.

After another disappointing showing from Pique at the weekend surely now is the time to consider a Bartra/Mathieu partnership in central defence? A pairing that offers power, pace and no little skill.

With Thomas Vermaelen still to return, we could see Bartra shunted even further into the Camp Nou shadows but, frankly, if you're not going to play the youngster, let him leave.

He's simply too good to play second fiddle for too much longer.

Ditto Martin Montoya, who has only played for 90 minutes this season.

Sergio Vara of SPORT noted the right-back would've hoped for more minutes this season but has been an unused sub four times and left out altogether on five other occasions.

Hardly a ringing endorsement of either Montoya or Bartra, both players who worked under Enrique at Barca B, is it?

The manager remains unrepentant about his selection policy, however, telling a press conference before the match vs. Eibar, noted by SPORT:

"

If someone is not happy with the decisions taken by the person who decides who plays, they know what to do: try to change the opinion by proving yourself and working hard every day to become a more important player.

You can see by the decisions I make, I have confidence in the majority, or you could say in all the players in this squad.

"

Working hard everyday is a pre-requisite for any player at Barcelona, so when the decisions that Enrique speaks of aren't reflected by his team selection, then it's easy to conclude that the manager has no confidence in either player.

Why else would he buy Douglas as cover for Dani Alves, by way of example?

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In Bartra and Montoya, Enrique has two players steeped in the history of the club. Two players who would give their right arm for an extended run in the side.

Two players who deserve their chance, and in Bartra's case at the expense of a player who noted himself what the youngster brings to the table, per Barca TV (h/t Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC):

"

Marc has shown when he plays that he can do well [...] We must count on Marc [...] When I see Marc Bartra I am reminded of myself with the crazy surges up the field.

You must keep in line and stay serious. These are things that you get with experience, and realising that you must stay back.

"

Experience, says Pique. Something that Bartra and Montoya will only get by playing matches.

Over to you, Lucho.