Zbinden promises changes: there is positional chaos at FCB

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Seefeld at the end of June. Because then FCB coach Timo Schultz (46) had no more players at the training camp in Austria, equipment manager Roger Eglin had to assist as a right back during a tactics exercise. Nine months later, Eglin can fully concentrate on his actual tasks again. With Mohamed Dräger (27), Kevin Rüegg (25) and veteran Michael Lang (33), FCB now has three trained right backs in the 34-man selection.

But against Winterthur (1:1), none of the three started in this position again. Dräger has to play on the right wing, Rüegg and Lang are alone on the bench. Nicolas Vouilloz (22), a trained central defender, plays as a right back. And in the center of the defense are two midfielders, Fabian Frei (35) and Renato Veiga (20). Positional chaos at FCB!

Vouilloz gets into trouble

What’s behind it? The experienced Lang continues to play no role under FCB coach Fabio Celestini (48). And because Dräger and Rüegg struggled with injuries during winter preparation, new signing Vouilloz had to help out as right back at the start of the second half of the season.

The plan worked initially; FCB sometimes suddenly had the best defense in the competition. Because Vouilloz did his temporary job flawlessly and captain Frei and Leon Barisic (22) suddenly formed a well-rehearsed central defender duo. It was logical that Celestini did not want to change anything in his back four for the time being.

But in recent weeks it has become increasingly clear that Vouilloz does not really feel comfortable in the right back position. Far too little comes from Geneva. And he always suffers from a lack of speed at the back. Against Winterthur, Basel mercenary Sayfallah Ltaief (23) always makes him dizzy.

Rüegg is just a substitute

Despite conceding ten goals in the last four games, Celestini appears to want to stick to his defence. Rüegg remains solely in the substitute role. And Dräger has to play on the wing due to a lack of alternatives. ‘I play where the coach puts me. It doesn’t matter whether it is in the front right, rear right or in the storm,” says the German-Moroccan. “Maybe I still have one or two strong points in the right back position. But others have to judge that.”

In addition to Vouilloz, Finn van Breemen (21) would actually be another central defender alternative. Celestini’s line-up leaves no doubt as to which players the FCB coach trusts in the relegation battle, regardless of their actual position.

Zbinden promises multiple transfers

After extending his contract until 2026, Celestini will demand reinforcements in the summer. And according to Ruedi Zbinen, he should get this too. “There are a few things wrong with the team composition,” the sports commission representative admits in the Blue interview. “We want to use three to four transfers in the summer to form a team that can play at the forefront again.”

No changes are planned for the material manager. Roger Eglin will continue to fulfill his duties at FCB even after 25 years. However, it is in keeping with Basel’s positional chaos that he had to help out as a right back in the training camp. Before his time at FCB, Eglin played for Binningen in the 3rd division – as a goalkeeper.

Source : Blick