Last night at the Mestalla in Valencia Spain, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 to a late Gareth Bale screaming run down the left hand side to take home the first piece of silverware for Los Blancos. The result solidifies the worst Barcelona season in recent memory. Within a time frame of two weeks, Barcelona has had nearly all hopes of winning any sort of trophy destroyed. Very little has been going right for Barcelona lately, both on and off the pitch. When Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid contest the Champions League semifinals next week, it will be the first time since 2007 that the semifinals of the greatest club competition in football will not feature FC Barcelona.
So where exactly have things gone wrong for Barcelona? Many blame the club’s failure to reinforce their defense for years, a need increased by Puyol’s inevitable decline, which seems like fair criticism. The defense is easily the squad’s weakest sector and it blatantly lacks depth. In addition, the players have looked tired, uninspired, and had no dedication or the nowhere near the level of effort we are used to seeing under Pep Guardiola. Overall this side has not been playing the football Barcelona is known for playing. The famous Tiki-Taka style that Johan Cryuff first brought to the club has not been the same. The style involves roaming movement and positional interchange amongst midfielders, moving the ball in intricate patterns, and sharp, one or two-touch passing. Tiki-taka is both defensive and offensive in equal measure. The team is always in possession, so doesn't need to switch between defending and attacking. However when you do lose the ball, the team works collectively and tirelessly to get it back as fast as possible. The speed of passing and speed at which this current Barcelona side is playing at has been one of the most notable declines. The movement off the ball has been the most drastic change. In the most recent starting 11, only Neymar has put in the effort of running off the ball and trying to create something. Too many Barcelona players on this year’s team want the ball played to their feet, and don’t put in the work necessary of the ball to create geometric passing channel. By doing this you create, team unity and a comprehensive understanding in the geometry of space on the pitch necessary to be successful once again with the style. This requires hard work on and off the ball which the players haven’t done consistently this season. Another key element to the Barcelona style of play that has been missing since Tata Martino has taken over, is the high pressure when they lose the ball. This was probably the most important piece to the puzzle in Barcelona sides of the past. When you do lose the ball, run as fast as you can in a group and get it back as soon as possible. This is what is taught from La Masia from a young age and is instilled into the heads of the youth players. This along with, making the game easy, short passing, patience and possession above all else; is what the current Barcelona senior side has forgotten.
The decision to sell the most up in coming midfielder of the “New Era" in La Masia Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich has proved to be a pretty disastrous deal. With the midfield of Barcelona not getting any younger, they could of without a doubt used some youth, energy, skill, and spark into the now somewhat predictable midfield of the Catalonians (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du8TfeC4yR0). Likewise with the sale of Spanish striker David Villa. He is showing this season, at Atlético that he could still have been a very important member in the Barcelona squad. With Messi not preforming to his high standards that we are so used to seeing, he has often drifted to the right hand side of the field looking disinterested. This leaves Barcelona playing most of the time without a true # 9 making their offense weaker than ever before. Messi has a tendency in recent weeks to start walking to the right hand side of the field and dropping to deep just to make passes center backs could make. His lack of energy and unusual movement leaves me concerned. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKh45xleJw) I have seen Alba, Alves, Adriano making some fantastic crosses into the box, but the heads of the players of Barcelona very rarely meets them. We often talk about plan-b; there is no other plan-b other than buying a strong/aerial threat posing Striker. A true # 9 essential.
So is it the manager? Gerardo Martino. The board? It seems that everyone wants to hold someone accountable. Maybe that would be useful to an extent. The club evidently is not in as strong a position as it was throughout Pep Guardiola’s time in charge, or even as strong as when he left two seasons ago. Radical changes might be just what the doctor ordered -but that’s the funny thing about the so called fin de ciclo, the end of this era, or whichever which way you want to look at it. Tata Martino does not have the same ability to inspire his players to exceed themselves that the likes of Pep Guardiola or Diego Simeone have shown. This is the reason why Pep admitted he left. The most important relationship that a coach must have with its players is being able to inspire the group. In the last few months, especially against the weaker teams in La Liga the side under Martino has looked uninterested. Self-entitlement, like they shouldn’t have to work hard for the victory just because they play for FC Barcelona. This remains to be my biggest problem with his coaching. This, along with the work ethic of the players have the significantly become worse under his management.
Or are the problems at Barcelona are self-inflicted? Internal turmoil within the club has destroyed what could have been an even more historic team and period of domination; Rosell has already resigned and the board’s situation is pretty close to untenable at the moment. The problems off the pitch have been well known for a while, with the latest development being the transfer ban enforced FIFA, and the Neymar transfer tax evasion issue; the problems could be off the field just as much they are on.
Assuming the board step down and the presidential elections bring a positive outcome for the club though, Barcelona have everything they need to bounce back strongly and compete for the biggest trophies next season, even if the transfer ban isn’t overturned. After all, the club’s incredible success in the recent past has been based mostly on homegrown players like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and co. while expensive signings have rarely lived up to the hype. With the likes of Busquets, Iniesta and Fabregas in their prime and Xavi still more than good enough to contribute, Barcelona are good to go in midfield, the same with Messi, Neymar, Pedro, Sanchez and co. up front. At the back, there will be further problems with Valdés leaving and Puyol heading to MLS, but Jordi Alba, Piqué, Bartra and Daniel Alves have proved to be a reliable back four at sometimes this season. Some transfers will still need to be made with a goalkeeper; two defenders, a midfielder, and a true forward should look to be the priority.
Rafinha Alcântara will return from loan to add a fresh dimension to the Barcelona midfield, while Gerard Deulofeu could yet return to add another staggeringly talented face to the Barça attack. In an ideal world, Alen Halilovic and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will arrive as well, both super talented and eager to impress at the world’s biggest club. Jean-Marie Dongou is constantly improving in the B team, alongside Denis Suarez, Joan Angel Roman and the fit-again Alejandro Grimaldo. And the pipeline is stacked with talent – just look at the recent UEFA Youth League victory and at Munir el Haddadi in particular. The kid scored a legitimate goal in the course of a game from the halfway line, and yet I’m supposed to believe that this club has a bleak future? It is pretty evident how important the La Masia at Barcelona has become to the club. Barcelona have arguably the greatest football academy in the world – in fact just a few days ago Barcelona’s youth team did what the senior team couldn’t and won the Champions League beating Benfica 3-0 in the final. Something Pep Guardiola took dividends of while he was in charge by promoting the likes of Pedro, Busquets and Thiago. Tata Martino will probably be on his way out in the summer, but with these resources at his disposal the new Barcelona manager, whoever it might be, has no excuse not to get the club contending for every relevant title,
Despite this season’s minislump of sorts, Barcelona still boast of an incredible squad with plenty of world class talent in their prime, led by Lionel Messi, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be one of the leading forces in European football for a few generations to come. FC Barcelona may be at a crossroads, but I have faith that they will take the right path. Do yourself a favor and think about these positives. Embrace optimism and focus on what the future might bring.
Playing football with your feet is one thing, but playing with your heart is another..
Our crest will always be in our heart!
El Nostre Escut Sempre Serà Al Nostre Cor
!Never give up and always believe
Visca El Barca e Visca Catalonia!
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