Setien will have to rotate more than ever as Barça chase 27th title

The end of the 2019-20 season is full of tests and challenges for the coaches of the teams pushing for the title. Games every three days, with little time to recover in between matches, means managing the squad could be key. 

Rotations and rests will be decisive in the sprint to the finish. Barcelona are already showing that. In the two games since LaLiga resumed last week, they have used 20 of the 24 players called up for games against Mallorca and Leganes. The possibility of making five substitutes has made that possible. 

There were three days between the games, played on June 13 and June 16, and Quique Setien made five changes in each match and five changes to his starting XI. Against Mallorca he picked Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Araujo, Jordi Alba; Arturo Vidal, Busquets, De Jong; Messi, Braithwaite and Griezmann. Only six then started against Leganes: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Busquets, Messi and Griezmann.

It's true that one change was motivated by Jordi Alba's suspension, but the left-back may have rested anyway ahead of Sevilla on Friday. 

Results

So far, given back to back wins, the management of the squad has been good, although Setien said after the hard-fought Leganes win that the team is still short of where they want to be on the ball. After three months without games, the players need more time to get their touch back. 

And as Setien needs all his players for this mission, he's obliged to ration the minutes to avoid injuries. In addition, it will also serve to keep the morale of the group hight if everyone is playing. 

For now, the only players to play all 180 minutes are Ter Stegen and Messi. The goalkeeper, save any setbacks, will be untouchable. The captain obviously is as well, but at certain moments he will have to take a break, although he always wants to play and knows how to manage himself between games. Setien, therefore, will have to convince the Argentine that a rest may be necessary at some point. 

La Liga will be won by the team that manages the rests and the rotations between now and July 19.