Barcelona veteran sends a message to Flick with strong performance for national team

Barcelona veteran sends a message to Flick with strong performance for national team FC Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo stood out for Portugal last night against Denmark, showcasing that he is returning to best form. His performance in the UEFA Nations League fixture was capped by an excellent goal, on the same day he won the La Liga Goal of the Month award for September , once again highlighting the attacking qualities he offers. Different roles for Portugal and Barcelona The interesting aspect of Cancelo’s situation is his tactical versatility depending on the team he plays for. At Barcelona under Hansi Flick, he has become firmly established at left-back, with that position effectively regarded as his permanent role despite being right-footed. With Portugal, however, the situation is different. The presence of Nuno Mendes, one of the best left-backs in the game, forces the 32-year-old veteran to play on the right flank. Cancelo plays at right-back for Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images) And, his impressive performances for Portugal on the right send a message to Flick: he can also be a reliable option on that flank, reports SPORT . It is a useful reminder for the German coach as he manages his squad during the opening stages of the season. So far this season, Flick has backed the emergence of Xavi Espart on the left, an experiment that has worked extremely well and opened up further options. Caution over Eric García On the right, meanwhile, Eric Garcia has emerged as the preferred starter, although there could be some changes in the coming games. After all, Garcia had to leave the Spain camp because of discomfort. The problem is not considered serious and there is an expectation that he will be fit for the game against Getafe. Flick uses Cancelo at left-back. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) However, his recovery will need to be closely monitored to determine whether he will be fully fit. If Garcia is unable to reach 100 per cent, both Cancelo and Espart emerge as high-level options for the right flank. The only consideration is Flick’s tactical preference. The Barcelona coach likes to balance the profiles of his full-backs. If more attacking players such as Espart or Cancelo operate on the left, he generally prefers a more defensive and positionally disciplined profile on the right, such as Jules Kounde or Garcia. So, it will be interesting to see how he opts to proceed, but Cancelo, with his strong performances for Portugal, has sent a reminder to the manager that he can be a starter for the team on the right side as well.