They gave a controversial season: the arrival of Leo can destroy all progress.
Barcelona’s completed season cannot be assessed unequivocally: there is a trophy, but there is also an unsuccessful European Cup campaign. The bosses will keep the coach – and this is a plus for the formation of a well-coordinated team. The Catalans, on the other hand, step on the same rake again, contacting Messi. Learn more about each item.
First La Liga victory without Messi
It was important to get the first trophy after the Argentine’s departure – this would signal the liberation of the “blue garnet” from dependence on Messi. And the fact that this result was the victory in the Spanish championship is a big plus.
However, La Liga competitors did not disappear: Real Madrid and Atlético performed more or less on equal terms. One could say that the “creamy” allowed the Catalans to become champions, giving priority to the Champions League. But this is a silly argument: Barça overtook Real Madrid in the autumn and had formed an 8-point lead by February. At such an early stage, no big score for the national championship, even if it is focused Champions League “Real”. The stagnation had an effect – the “creamy” ones began to sound worse. But even the “Blaugrana” were not a dream team. Atlético, despite a controversial season, traditionally finished third, periodically putting their neighbors to the test.
And even with a discount for the decline of both competitors, Barça won La Liga spectacularly and early: the lead reached 15 points, then dropped to 10-12 points. And as a result – the championship of Xavi’s wards with an impressive margin. For a crisis team dealing with financial problems, this is a great foundation.
Failure in the European competition
There is no other name for the recent European Cup campaign. At the same time, all inputs should be taken into consideration. Starting with Champions League – the Catalans ended up in an extremely competitive group with Bayern and Inter Milan (Victoria is a roadmate in this quartet). Initially, the lineup looked like this: Barca compete with Monaco, the Nerazzurri are selected for this THE (The Italians started the season badly). It was the Germans who were considered the favorites, since the team was an order of magnitude better built, plus the coach was an already established specialist. In such conditions, a victory over Victoria and a defeat against Bayern was the optimal scenario for Barcelona – it was necessary to beat Inter.
And to everyone’s surprise, the future finalists Champions League well prepared for those two encounters. In the first game Simone Inzaghi’s defenses sterilized the Catalans’ possession – even the engines (Rafinha with Dembele) and Pedri’s intelligent movements didn’t help the latter. For the second meeting, Xavi’s team prepared a simpler flank: they went down to the sheds and created sharpness with the help of young people (Pedri, Gavi, Fati). It was enough for a draw. Already at this stage it became clear that the “Blaugranes” shine to the max in the Europa League.
And in the playoff round, the Spanish grandfather got Manchester United. The teams are similar in that both are in a state of crisis and trying to maintain their former greatness. Only if Barca have recently found themselves in this position and financial problems interfere with high-profile transfers, then the Mancunians have been in a crisis for a long time and are even on the mend. This difference, coupled with the variability, resulted in a sure win for the Red Devils.
Barça is not a fully built project with gaps in some roles – this does not allow you to fight on an equal footing with more solid teams. And it is impossible for the image of the winning team to prevail in evaluating the season of the “blue garnets” Champions League And so on. But even with a discount on this defeat of Inter and Manchester United – those factors that allow you to make claims against the club.
They didn’t kick Xavi out
As per tradition, after the failure of the European Cup, rumors began about Xavi’s imminent resignation. It was definitely impossible to take such a step – you need to understand what led to such a result. In the conditions of financial constraints that fell on Barça, the funds could have been managed more efficiently. The signing of Lewandowski was optional, all the more at the disposal of the coach was Aubameyang, who quickly absorbed the atmosphere of the Catalans. Rafinha duplicated the position and functions of Dembele – and still made it to the team. But practice has shown that on the left flank the Brazilian is still not so effective.
Xavi also wanted to support in winter: under his leadership, the “blue garnet” clearly had a future. The Spaniard’s actions only confirmed this. First of all, he contacted Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman was again absent for a long time through injury, but there are no more stories of regime breakdown. In addition, the coach stubbornly trusted Ansu Fati and, despite rumors about the club’s willingness to part with the pupil after a serious injury, gradually integrated the winger into the starting lineup.
The Spaniard has finally spent this season injury-free, and has started to come off more and more from the opening minutes. In the last two La Liga games he has scored 3 goals. For the entire championship – 7 goals and 4 assists – this is Ansu’s best indicator in his professional career.
The benefits of Xavi’s work are several times greater than the harm – this is another argument in favor of retaining the coach, in addition to arguments about stability.
Trying to get Messi back
This is a negative aspect, if only because the team will take a step backwards, both in sporting and financial terms. Leo could not be saved in 2021 due to La Liga’s salary cap. Now the situation has not changed. The bosses of the Catalans are trying to find free funds to strengthen themselves, they are begging the leaders to cut salaries, they are letting Busquets go. And all this to give Lionel back instead of earning points? The Argentine undoubtedly occupies a huge space in the club’s history, and the new contract with him is a great step in terms of image.
But it is worth assessing the situation objectively: for the sake of the attacker, you will probably have to part with one of the current leaders. According to rumors, Rafinha could leave the team. A player who was signed just last summer – and for 58 million euros. Let go a year later for the sake of the legend about him.
Indeed, the “blue garnets” are trying to cope with the problems that have arisen, to move forward, but in doing so they constantly look back in the hope of returning to their former greatness. First, this led to the signing of Lewandowski with Aubameyang and Rafinha with Dembele. Now – to an attempt to reunite with Messi.
And that also affects the image side of the issue. If we take sport into consideration, even a step back is obvious. Leo will not be involved in the pressure of the team, he needs a structure similar to the concept of the Argentina national team, where all the teammates facilitate the outside and allow him to operate in a comfortable way. If Messi arrives, Xavi will simply have to reshape Barcelona’s strategy.
