Barcelona – Evolution Not Revolution
Barcelona are currently the world’s greatest club team. They are possibly the best club team of the last 20 years and an argument could be made for them to be the greatest footballing side of all time. But life doesn’t stand still and that’s certainly true in football. As we hit the busy period in the transfer window, expect Barcelona to add some quality players to their already stunning roster. Last year’s theory of having a small squad full of quality and then backing it up with talented youngsters worked, but only just. More cover is needed if Barcelona are to once again sit at the top of European football. And Barcelona are not shy about this new approach. Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas are big name targets for them this summer and so is the addition of another centre back. But don’t expect Barcelona to change too much next season, once again their style and success will be built around the team already there.
Barcelona are famous for many things but it’s their youth system which is perhaps their greatest asset. Going through the team it’s easy to see “Barcelona DNA” embedded in the heart of the squad. Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Messi, Valdes, Pique, Pedro and Busquets all came through the youth ranks at Barcelona and have all established themselves in the first team. Add in to the mix the highly talented Thiago and the possible return of Fabregas and Barcelona can boast not only the finest team in the world but one that has grown up together in and around Barcelona. And they also know how to add players into the mix that complement the home grown talent. Abidal was outstanding for them last season and Daniel Alves is as key to the attack with his darting runs up the right wing as Messi is with his goals or Xavi is with his passing. David Villa had a mixed season last term but still chipped in with important goals none more so than the Champions League Final, though his long term future at the club remains uncertain.
Barcelona right now are coming towards the end of one cycle and the start of something new, though with many of the same key people involved. This very well could be Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge of the Catalan giants and Puyol and Xavi won’t have too many more seasons left in them, there have even been suggestions that Puyol may follow Pep out the door in a year’s time. Whoever the new manager will be will have luxury of having a brilliant team but one that will need to change slightly. Fabregas will take over from Xavi at the heart of the midfield one day, though his game is slightly different to Xavi’s you doubt there will be any major change in style there. The signing of Sanchez won’t mean the end of Villa next season, both will have their part to play but it’s hard to see the soon to be 30 year old staying at the club for too many more seasons. Daniel Alves is still only 28 but Barcelona are sure to look at a long term replacement in the next two to three years and with Puyol playing less and less games each season a centre back is surely going to be signed this summer to play alongside Pique.
One interesting issue will be to see how many games the youth players get next season with Barcelona having a larger first team squad. With such extreme competition in midfield it may be hard for Thiago to play too many games next season and he has already told the press that first team football is his priority. And with other youth players such as Victor Sanchez, Jeffren and Bojan having either having left or looking likely to go, it will be interesting to see as to how Barcelona squad rotate next season.
Barcelona then are not at a period of great change, instead they are at a point of evolution. They are looking to spend wisely to ensure the long term future of the squad they already have. If this is to be Guardiola’s last season in charge he couldn’t ask for a more talented squad to manage in his final season at Barcelona. Next season could be the most complete and talented Barcelona squad yet and this could prove to be very bad news indeed for their opponents.
