Deco's plan prevails over the national team break. Last season, Barcelona deflated when Hansi Flick lost Pedri and Raphinha. The Canary Islands player missed 15 games due to three injuries; the Brazilian, 24 in five. But Flick, and with him the entire team, suffered more from the striker's absence. "We miss him. His mentality is impressive. He influences the entire team," the German stressed when Barça was left again and again without Raphinha. Deco then took note. Thus, when the noise was about Julián Álvarez, he signed Gordon. It was a surprise.
The noise about Julián did not stop all summer. However, the sports management continued looking for forwards. First he signed Adeyemi and, when the incorporation of the Argentine was finally ruled out, Gabriel Jesus landed at the Camp Nou. The best player in the World Cup joined in the middle: Rodri. "Playing with these players is very easy, they all play very well. They always have the ball at their foot, that makes it easier for me as a forward to have scoring chances. I am ready to score goals there," explained Gabriel Jesus.
Gabriel Jesus scored Barcelona's second goal against Getafe. The first was from another of the signings, Gordon. After an atypical FIFA day (four national team matches), the azulgranas beat the blue team (the third was scored by Koundé) just the day in which neither Pedri (rest) nor Raphinha (injury) played from the start. Flick also drew an eleven with many changes against Bordalás' team. "It is very important that everyone is at this level. In some positions we have three high-level players. There is a great atmosphere in the team, everyone plays for the team. In the end everything is for the team and for the club," highlighted the German coach.
Flick then analyzed the match. "I think it was important to score very early. Normally it is not easy to come back after three weeks. Getafe is a very good team. Their way of defending is one of the best in the league. It is not easy to create situations for them. This is the way we want to play: control the game and the rivals." Barcelona exercised almost absolute control of the ball, with 82.9% possession, 862 passes and 91.3% success rate. In addition, he permanently laid siege to Soria's goal: 23 shots, 16 from inside the area; nine were blocked and only eight went on goal.
"Flick gives a lot of confidence to the players. We are playing very well. We are going to have chances when we are on the field. We have to score goals. I hope Raphinha recovers soon because we noticed his absence," said Gabriel Jesus. And Koundé added: "We are in a good moment, everyone is contributing, everyone wants to play. We have started well, but we want more. When you go down a bit, any team can put you in danger. In a few days, another game and we will go for it."
Barcelona added its eighth consecutive victory in the League - it is the second time in its history that it has achieved this; The first was with Tata Martino in the 2013-2014 season—and he has won 23 games in a row at the Camp Nou. He has Madrid's record of 24 within reach, precisely the next rival that will visit the Camp Nou. Flick's team will visit Galatasaray and PSG in the Champions League, travel to Seville to face Betis in the League and return home for the classic. "We have a cool calendar. We are delighted, we play football on calendars like that," explained Koundé. And it seems that he is right. Nobody erases the smile of Flick's Barcelona. The team maintains intensity and football even when it is missing important pieces like Raphinha and, for an hour, Pedri (he came on in the second half). It's Deco's job.
