Why Sergi Roberto Is a Vital Cog in Barcelona Squad

Laughing stock would be too harsh a description but, until this season, Sergi Roberto was not a player of much weight or significance at Barcelona.

He was the sort who featured in Copa del Rey clashes in the early rounds and dead-rubber Champions League ties, coming off the bench to rest a first-teamer's legs for a few minutes.

Despite various links to moves away from Camp Nou, he decided to stay. Perhaps Xavi Hernandez's removal from the equation, with the veteran heading to Qatar, had an impact.

Almost instantly this season, it seemed, he transformed from hotly-tipped but underachieving youth to an essential cog for Barcelona, in a variety of positions.

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Diario Sport explained Luis Enrique had seen the chance for Sergi Roberto to play in defence at the end of last season. Ivan San Antonio wrote: 

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The first time the Barça coach shared his idea with Sergi Roberto was at the end of last season, before the start of the summer. It was then that he told him he saw him as a right-back, as the player who could fill in for Dani Alves if and when required.

Enrique didn't just tell the player this, but others at the club, too. Sources inside the club assured that Roberto "will play half the games as a full-back." It's not something born out of need, rather something born out of careful planning.

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After managing to play as a right-back during the pre-season tour of the USA, Sergi Roberto began the new campaign there, impressing in the first game of the season against Athletic Club.

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A strong run of matches in that position gave him a lot of confidence, and when Dani Alves returned, Lucho had no doubts about playing him in central midfield, his usual position. But the way Roberto took to full-back, like a duck to water, gave the coach other ideas.

Against BATE Borisov in the Champions League he started on the left wing. Then, in the Clasico, he was picked on the right wing.

Sergi Roberto was magnificent, putting the first goal on a plate for Luis Suarez as Barcelona stunned Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But his nomadic experience didn't stop there. Sergi Roberto also featured in the pivot role Sergio Busquets usually takes, as a left interior alongside Ivan Rakitic and even at left-back against Athletic Club again, when Jordi Alba was injured.

Last season Sergi Roberto played less than 1,000 minutes, starting eight games. This season's numbers reflect his new-found importance, starting 22 games so far, with 1,759 minutes on the clock.

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It caused Luis Enrique to praise the versatility and quality of the Reus-born midfielder.

According to Barcelona's official website, the coach said: "In a team like ours, except in goal, he could play in any position. It’s no surprise. The most difficult thing is doing it well all over the field and Sergi Roberto does that."

Sergi Roberto has shown his manager and the fans that he can be trusted in virtually any spot on the team.

Although if everybody was fit he would likely not be selected in the gala XI, the one which would start a Champions League final, it would hurt Lucho to leave him out.

Sergi Roberto has a purpose at last. Before this season he was treading water, but now he is a core member of a team attempting to repeat its treble success and achieve the historic feat of lifting the Champions League two seasons running.