Exclusive interview: Marc Bartra on Betis, Barca, Messi and life in lockdown

The end of March was supposed to kickstart the countdown to Euro 2020. England were scheduled to host Italy and Spain would have already faced Germany and the Netherlands in the space of four days. None of those games took place and neither will Euro 2020.

The outbreak of COVID-19 around the world has put football on hold for the foreseeable future. Authorities are committed to concluding the 2019/20 campaigns by the end of June but that appears more hopeful than realistic. It's unprecedented. You have to date back to 1939 at the start of the Second World War when football was suspended to find any parallels.  

Footballers around Europe get breaks during the course of the season but nothing like this. Some are not even allowed to leave their homes in certain countries, the right decision of course. 

That is true of Marc Bartra of Real Betis. Spain is the epicentre of COVID-19 and the entire country has been on lockdown for  nearly two weeks. We took the time to speak to Marc on Instagram about life as a footballer at this time, and both his career and season to date. 

At Betis, Bartra revealed the club are in constant contact with its players. Betis are committed to being in the best possible shape whenever football gets the green light to return and constant communication and individual training plans are essential to that.  

"We have a WhatsApp group and every day we talk to each other," Bartra told WhoScored.com in an exclusive interview. "We have a specific plan to maintain fitness, we want to get back as strong as possible!" Even still, it's an unusual period for the 29-year-old. He has even had to explain the delicate topic with his young daughter and the importance of staying home rather than going to school or training.

This season has been surprising in more ways than one as far as Bartra is concerned. Having spent his career, which now spans more than a decade, as a centre-back, he has made five league starts as a defensive midfielder under Beits manager Rubi. Bartra has previously had spells out at full-back during his time at Borussia Dortmund but has taken to a midfield role even more impressively.  

His WhoScored rating for the 2019/20 LaLiga campaign is 6.98 but that increases to 7.34 from defensive midfield starts alone. To put that into context, albeit from a small sample, only Real Madrid's Casemiro (7.54) and Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino (7.36) have better WhoScored ratings in the division of central midfielders.

Two of his top WhoScored ratings in LaLiga this season were in matches against Espanyol and Mallorca, respectively, before Christmas. He started in midfield in both matches. Moreover, Bartra has scored two league goals in 2019/20 and both came when positioned further forward. They were even in successive games, against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid. 

Despite being a defender at heart, Bartra credits the way players are brought up at Barcelona's fabled academy, La Masia, as the reason behind his seamless transition to his midfield role.  

"It is the first year that I have played in midfield as a professional. It is a different position but I felt comfortable and game by game I felt better. At Barca, having the ball at your feet and technique is worked on a lot from childhood. Going through all the lower age groups of Barca has given me a platform to grow in football and to improve my skills." 

One of Bartra's statistically calculated WhoScored strengths is 'passing' and that is underpinned by a solid pass success rate of 86.6% in LaLiga since the beginning of last season. However, defending and getting the ball back as quickly as possible remains Bartra's first port of call - another skill ingrained into him from the teachings at Barcelona.  

As far as centre-backs in Spain go, there are none better at retrieving possession. A return of 2.2 tackles per game is the most of any centre-back in LaLiga this term, illustrating his mastery of what some consider a dying art. 

"Teams are made to have the ball so it is important that you recover it as quickly as possible," Bartra continued. "It is important to have quick defences and to anticipate well. In my case, I really like defending in one-on-one situations. Being reactive and fast in the first few metres is so important."

A tackle success rate of 76.6% from 15 league appearances at centre-back would also certainly support the fact that he is very handy in those type of scenarios. As are statistically calculated strengths of 'tackling', 'concentration', 'blocking the ball' and 'ball interceptions'.  

Having come through at Barcelona, there is arguably no better crash course into defending than marking Lionel Messi everyday, whom Bartra describes as the greatest of all-time. "It is a pleasure to have played with Leo for so many years, he is the best player in the history of football. I learned a lot training and playing with him." 

Dortmund's loss has certainly been Betis' gain. Bartra's introduction has undoubtedly helped make Betis more resilient. Betis have failed to win seven of the 11 league matches (63.6%) Bartra has not started since joining at the start of 2018, conceding an average of 1.45 goals per game in those fixtures.  

With the Spaniard in the side however, goals conceded per game decrease to 1.35, while goals scored per game increase from 1.18 to 1.32. While Bartra may not contribute in the attacking phase too often, the fact Betis are stronger at the back in his presence has helped breed confidence further forward. 

Having played for two of the biggest clubs in Spain and Germany, Betis are also benefitting from Bartra's character in the dressing room. For a defender, Bartra has a knack of scoring in big games. He opened his account for Betis in the Seville derby, of all matches, and has previously found the back of the net in a cup final Clasico for Barcelona and verus Bayern Munich while at Dortmund.  

Big matches, when it really counts, can often be the making of a player and Bartra admits he thrives in high-pressure situations, albeit with a hint of good fortune. "Yes, derbies have always motivated me a lot. And I have been fortunate to play many, it is a coincidence, and a little lucky, to have scored goals in all those I have played." 

As well as league campaigns being suspended, one of the major ramificiations of the COVID-19 outbreak has been on Euro 2020. It will now take place 12 months later. There are bigger things at play in the world at the moment but there are natural consequences to be drawn from that decision. Players will be a year older and others would have had another 12 months to develop. With Gerard Pique already retired, coupled with the fact both Sergio Ramos and Raul Albiol will be at least 35 by the time Euro 2021 rolls around, there is a chance Luis Enrique's back four will have a different look to it next summer.

It's been more than 16 months since Bartra last played for the Spanish national team, a game in which he naturally scored. He returned to Spain from Dortmund in order to resurrect his international career, and while it was a decision made too late to reach the 2018 World Cup, there is no reason why he shouldn't be seriously eyeing next summer's major tournament.  

In fact, Bartra and Athletic Club's Inigo Martinez are the top two highest WhoScored rated Spanish centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues this season. It's likely they would have been in the reckoning to feature against Germany or the Netherlands in the last week and even a case for one to partner Ramos at the back this summer, had the tournament continued as normal. 

Bartra is perhaps unfortunate to have played in an era where Ramos and Pique have played such integral roles for the national team. However, rather than dwell on the situation, the Betis defender sees it as a blessing.  

"It is a pleasure to have played with them both, they are two of the best centre-backs in the history of football. I learned a lot from him." Now one, and potentially both, could be out of the picture in 2021, Bartra refuses to be drawn on talk he could start for La Furia Roja. "This question is better to ask Luis Enrique, he is the head of the team! ;)".

Should he continue his fine form since returning to Spain, there aren't too many candidates with as strong a claim.