Barcola’s European hat-trick sparks debate over the Premier League

After his European hat-trick, Barcola has stirred debate with remarks about the tactical level of English football. The French forward scored three times last Wednesday as Liverpool beat LASK 6-3 on the second matchday of the league phase of the Ligue.

The performance comes after Barcola joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain this summer in a transfer valued at around 145 million euros. His impact, however, has differed between competitions: despite his European flourish, he has yet to score or provide an assist in the Premier League.

Asked about his start with the English team, Barcola told the programme « Téléfoot »: « Things are going well, and I’ve been able to get to know my teammates. We also have an excellent coach with very good ideas. I’m trying to adapt, because the atmosphere here is completely different from what it was at Paris Saint-Germain. »

He also compared the tactical demands of the two leagues. « The English league is different, and I find it less tactical; perhaps because we played under a coach who was very strict tactically (Luis Enrique). There are fewer changes on the pitch here; with my former coach, I had to move inside and then go back out wide so another player could take my place, whereas here it’s completely different. »