Skip to main content

Barca Must Accept Their Situation

                                              FC Barcelona Noticias

Another season, the same result. Barcelona is back in the less fancied Europa League once again after five rounds of Champions League group-stage matches. The air of disappointment that greeted the pre-match activities for the Blaugrana's penultimate group game at home to group-winning Bayern Munich soon metamorphosed into horror after a toothless display in a comprehensive 3-0 loss to their German nemesis. As the club anthem boomed around the Spotify Camp Nou at the final whistle, it gave a rather somber theme as some of the faithful who stayed till the end of the game pondered on the consequences of the team's recent failure.

The deed was done before the match with Xavi, his squad, and indeed the Culers all watching in disparaging hope that a recent Italian league champion will somehow fail to complete the business at home against Viktoria Plzen. There can be no shock about Barcelona's exit given the condition going into their clash against the pulverizing German champions. However, there can be some lividness at how meek Barca was. Not even for pride, they could not show up.

The consequences of this relegation are multi-layered. Barcelona according to reports was banking on at least a quarter-final finish. They had spent big in the summer like a team bankrolled by multi-billionaire owners. Laporta had spearheaded a huge splurge sponsored by different financial levers, TV rights, and a deal with Spotify. Although they could not get unwanted big earners totally off the wage bill, they still snapped up big money deals for Joules Kounde, Raphinia, and Robert Lewandowski.  The first two were snatched under the nose of Chelsea, in addition to taking Marco Alonso on a free from the blues. The dirty saga around the transfer of serial goal-plunderer Robert Lewandowski from Munich to Barcelona was another high point for the fans. Their tormentor in chief was now onside. 
                                               Barca Blaugranes

There is nothing as demoralizing as having your pride crushed in such a hapless fashion. It has not exactly been a bad season so far, but the last month has changed the atmosphere and knocked confidence. Barca is out of the champions league and has lost some ground in the title race after being swept aside in the Classico. The horror of calling the Europa League home for a second consecutive season knocks the frame of the stature Xavi and Laporta are desperate to rebuild at the club.
                                           Barca Blaugranes

Xavi of course has come in for criticism. Surely he must pay for overseeing such a splurge and failing to meet the 'minimum'. Xavi should not be spared because he's a club legend. Xavi is not tactically sound enough to lead this group forward. The views of distraught fans and their mass walkout at halftime sum up the fickle world of football management today. But, with all the pride over nothing, Barca must accept the truth. This is a process that will not be solved only by throwing money at it or selling off the club's future in bits. 

The rebuilding process will take a bit of humility. The pride and pomposity with which the season has been approached bodes well for the future only if it is anchored on a humble and genuine realization of the present. Barcelona is not at the top table of European football anymore. It is a horrible fact. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maresca’s Chelsea Conquer the World: BlueCo’s Project Comes Alive

Football365 A Glorious Night in New Jersey Chelsea Football Club once again stood atop the footballing world, lifting the FIFA Club World Cup after a stunning 3–0 victory over PSG in a packed MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It was a game that heralded joy, redemption, and vindication for the BlueCo project and, indeed, Enzo Maresca. Cole Palmer's decisive double and calm assist capped off a composed team performance that proved too difficult for PSG on a hot day. From Champions of Europe to Chaos Chelsea’s path to this trophy was far from easy. Qualifying through their 2021 UEFA Champions League triumph over Manchester City in Porto, the Blues had since undergone a complete transformation. Ownership changed hands, a host of new players were brought in, and five head coaches came and went. The soul of the club seemed lost as a young, victorious squad was dismantled to build an entirely new one. Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea had just conquered Europe and looked poised for domestic domi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ranking the Managers: The Average Performers

.                                                 Football365  With the 2022/2023 season completed, we review the achievements of the 20 PL managers this term. Who did elite level jobs? How about the failures? And who were just alright? Take a look at what we think.  N. B: Finishing positions are not the sole basis for our ratings though they play a part.  1. Jurgen Klopp ---------- Liverpool (5th) .                                              thesun.ie   From coming close to a quadruple to missing out on the champions league, it's been a big fall from grace for the Reds.  It was a disappointing season. No matter how Klopp tries to paint it. For the Liverpool side he has built, this should simply ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ruben Amorim's First Match: Welcome to Reality

The Bubsy Babe The first match of the Ruben Amorim era played out before a fully packed Portman Road on Sunday evening. There was palpable excitement for both sides as Ipswich Town hosted Manchester United in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. The Tractor Boys, who are again mixing it with the big boys, came into this match off the back of a 2-1 win at Tottenham last time out. Manchester United were up for their first match under newly appointed head coach Ruben Amorim. Curiosity about the lineup was rife, and fans were keen to see the workings of the famed three-at-the-back system that Amorim has been renowned for. In the end, a 1-1 draw was quite a disappointment for the Red Devils, despite the saves Andre Onana made to secure a point at the newly promoted Ipswich. The first 81 seconds of the game were electric, as United came off the blocks and Rashford finished a crafted move with Amad Diallo at its center. Amorim did not jump dramatically for joy, instead adopting ...
Post a Comment
Read more