Last Monday, before the modest Granada, Barcelona recorded 54 centers to the area – the second most recorded for a team since the 2005-2006 season – and could barely tie at minute 89. This is how complicated is the present of a club that is far from learning to live without its greatest idol.
Yes, it was another disappointing performance at the Camp Nou, which earned him the boo of the 27 thousand aficionados who got together. Where was the “Tiki Taka” from a few years ago? The followers wondered. “But what Barça is this?” titled the newspaper Marca on its printed cover.
“It is what it is, we are what we are now,” the captain had already said. Gerard Piqué after being thrashed and exhibited at home, 0-3, by Bayern Munich, last week, on the first day of the 2021-2022 Champions League.
“What is happening is one of the scenarios that we contemplated. And I ask for your patience. Patience and that they continue to support the team “
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Faced with the wave of criticism, the Dutch coach, Ronald Koeman, yesterday read a statement without giving rise to questions: “to be in a high ranking in the league would be a success”, he said and, then, lapidary, he released: “in the Champions League miracles cannot be expected ”.
Barcelona, plunged into a severe financial crisis, for which it had to get rid of Lionel Messi, knows, in advance, that this year it will be difficult to add titles, and today they only appeal to a promising future, despite the fact that in the first five games without the Argentine star they only have one defeat.
But why the negativity if you have two victorias and two ties? Because one of the victories was suffered against Getafe, a team that has not won in the Spanish league, and the home draw against Granada was not budgeted, as the Andalusian team marches in position 18 of the classification.
“Today’s young talents can become the new world stars in a couple of years. But patience is required ”. This process requires “unconditional support … in word and deed,” said the technician.
But this will be difficult, because Messi led them to win more than Suspenders locals, to be favorites, although there were already “signs” still with the Argentine, of the coming storm. That 8-2 overall in the past Quarter finals of the last Champions League against Bayern set the alarms, evidenced a team in which Leo could no longer alone.
Precisely, Koeman came to the Blaugrana bench shortly after that defeat. Messi left and the board could only give Memphis Depay and Sergio Agüero the coach to try to keep afloat a team that got used to the elite. It has not been enough.
“If we have to be frank, today we will not be among the favorites (in the Champions League). Nor is there anything wrong for not being one (…) Many times we have been and we have not succeeded. Last year, who was Chelsea’s favorite? Nobody. Soccer changes very fast “
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Injuries, one more headache for Barcelona
It is a fact that it hit the output of Lionel Messi, but coupled with it and the financial situation that prevented the arrival of ‘top’ reinforcements, the Barcelona He has had to deal with another problem: injuries, which, according to Koeman, have even changed the style and way of attacking of this team.
“It also depends on the players that we lack, people who stand out with actions individual. Look at the squad list: we did what we had to do. There were no footballers for “Tiki-Taka”, he said after the draw against Granada.
“You have to play with our style, but if the game wants a change, you have to do it. If you have to center on the outside, then you do it ”, said the Dutchman last Monday, amid criticism from the fans for leaving the Blaugrana label to play.
Days before, after the defeat against him Bayern; He declared: “It is very difficult to accept, but (it only remains) to wait for things to improve and for people to improve from their injuries.” In that match, Koeman opened the doors of the first team to two teenagers: Yusuf Demir and Gavi, both 18 years old. Midfielder Pedri gonzalez, also of that age, was a starter.
Thus, Barcelona has had to resort to a greater extent to its quarry to weather the disaster his finance because of the pandemic and the mismanagement of previous directives.
Sergio Aguero, veteran Argentine striker recently arrived, Ousmane Dembélé, Ansu Fati, Sergiño Dest and Jordi Alba are the players who are in the “freezer”. Of these, the last one is a survivor of those golden years of the “Tiki Taka”.
Today, Barcelona visit to Cádiz and the weekend will receive Levante. Next Wednesday he will visit the Benfica on the second date of the Champions League. Before they would be procedural games, but given the circumstances they are presented as keys: either the boat is straightened or the pressure on Koeman could be unsustainable.
“The club is with me as a coach in a rebuilding situation. We have to rebuild the team without being able to make large financial investments. That takes time “
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You can also read: After Barcelona’s weak start, Koeman is sincere: ‘don’t expect miracles’
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