Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola has labelled the Premier League ‘less tactical’, after failing to score in his first five games in the competition.
Bradley Barcola was linked with a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Arsenal over the summer, but it quickly became clear that he was far more likely to end up at Liverpool.
Part of that was because Liverpool were the only club in the world willing to pay a fee which could reach £123m for the player, with a guaranteed £106m initial fee that exceeds what Arsenal paid for club-record signing Declan Rice even after add-ons.
But Liverpool haven’t seen a significant return on their investment so far, with Barcola yet to score a goal in the Premier League.
The winger has made five Premier League appearances so far, four of them starts, and his first goal contribution finally arrived on Saturday, as he headed the ball down for Alexander Isak to beat his man and finish.
But when asked why he’s made such a slow start to life in his new league, Barcola suggested it’s because the Premier League isn’t as tactical as Ligue 1.
“I am trying to adapt because it is very different to Paris Saint-Germain,” Barcola said. “The Premier League? It is different. I find that it is less tactical. In any case, we (PSG) had a very, very tactical manager (Luis Enrique), but I find that it is less tactical; there are fewer changes on the pitch.
“It is true that, with my former manager, I had to come inside, play down the wing, someone else would then take my position. Here, it is very different.”
It’s certainly an interesting take, particularly from a player whose pace is his outstanding attribute. It would be great to get some insight on how Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola feels about the suggestion he’s less tactical than Barcola’s former manager.
Barcola certainly appreciated the break from the Premier League in the last midweek, scoring his first Liverpool goals against Austrian side LASK in the Champions League. Austria must be another more tactical country.
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