After almost a year – since the rumors of his purchase began to percolate – it may be Ezequiel Barco’s time to shine with Atlanta United.
With Miguel Almiron's injury sustained in last week's 2-1 win against New England possibly sidelining him for the remaining two games of the regular season, manager Gerardo Martino implied that Barco will be the player tasked with filling the Paraguayan's influential boots. It was Barco who subbed for Almiron after he left the game in the 30th minute. Barco played well, drawing several fouls and hitting good passes to put teammates into positions to shoot.
“In reality, it was a very difficult moment because we all know Miguel (Almiron) is a very important player for this team and the team needs him, so I just tried to go in and do what the coaching staff asked of me,” Barco said.
If Barco can step in the next two games and help Atlanta United win the Supporters’ Shield, it would be a step toward realizing the ambition of the club in paying a reported MLS-record transfer fee of $15 million to acquire him from Independiente in Argentina. Because, so far, it’s hard to say that Barco has lived up to the hype of the price tag. His totals this season: four goals and three assists. His first season may be remembered more for rumors than results.
Some of that has been bad luck after he sustained an injury in the week of the opening game that sidelined him for the first five games. Some of that has been bad choices after he made a decision that forced Martino to bench him for three games from July 21-Aug. 4. He has been used a sub in the past five games.
“He has to kind of regain his confidence to try to take control of the team,” Martino said.
Barco is the most polarizing player on Atlanta United’s team. Most of that has to do with the transfer price paid for him. For that many millions of dollars, the expectations, which Martino have said aren’t fair, is for goals, goals, goals and assists, assists, assists. Barco doesn’t help with his seeming reluctance to shoot – he passed up a chance Saturday against New England – or to take on defenders one-on-one. Those were things he did do at Independiente, where he scored eight goals in 57 appearances since turning pro at the age of 15.
But others argue that Barco’s skills can’t be weighed by traditional stats such as goals and assists. They point to the chances he creates for teammates, to his ability to relieve pressure on the defense with his dribbling, and his underrated skill at winning free kicks. He won five against New England.
“It’s a tough game to come into that quick, without really a warm up,” teammate Julian Gressel said. “I didn’t really expect him to come in that early, but I thought he did a good job. He found his way into the game and then kept the ball for us, created some things for us, so I thought he had a good game.”
If Barco moves into Almiron’s role, he likely will play the position differently.
Almiron spends as much energy on defense as he does on offense. Barco’s defensive skills are still developing.
Almiron is as fast with the ball as he is without. That speed makes him a good outlet when the defense is under pressure because he can receive the ball and split lines before the opponent can react. Barco is more deliberate with the ball and not as quick over long distances. However, he is as good as Darlington Nagbe at wriggling out of tight space and getting the ball to teammates to start counterattacks. And he puts teammates into good positions. His 52 chances created are 25th most in MLS. When factoring in minutes played, Barco averages the eighth-most chances per 90 minutes (2.973) in the league.
Almiron also takes a lot of shots (132 this season). Barco isn’t a gunslinger. He has taken just 20 shots in 24 appearances.
Barco has typically played on the left side of Atlanta United’s formations this season. He said he is comfortable playing in the middle. Should the team sell Almiron this winter, Barco may be among the top candidates to take over his role as the No. 10 in the formation.
Now, may be his time to stake his claim.
“Today, I had to go in and fill Miguel’s (Almiron) spot in the middle, but I have played there before so I’m OK,” he said.
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