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The Catalan club has always been synonymous with success, and still remain one of the biggest powerhouses of Europe. Barcelona is one of the most, if not the most successful club in the 21st century, and until 2015, their dominance in Europe seemed unparalleled, with all-time great Lionel Messi at the helm of it all.
But it cannot be argued against that since their last European coronation three years ago, their sheen of invincibility has all but faded away. While they still remain the kings of Spain, their regression on the European forefront has been a cause of worry for some time for Barca fans now.
The Blaugrana have been knocked out in the quarterfinals in each of the last three seasons, getting beaten by opponents that many would argue, they were favourites against. The recent success of their arch-rivals Real Madrid has made the criticism against them even more tantalizing. The regression in their powers can be held synonymously with the fact that every year the amount of world-class talent in their team seems to cease.
Since their last triumph in the Champions League, they have seen club legends such as Xavi, Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta depart, and their replacements have been far from promising. Let's not forget about the shock transfer of Neymar either The situation is in stark contrast to that of Real Madrid, who have built arguably the best squad in Europe.
The only common constant for Barcelona from the glory days of their past and today is their talisman, Lionel Messi, who is worshipped as a messiah by football fans. But with age, even his incredible powers have begun to wane, and Barca fans fear that if the squad is not strengthened immediately to back their best player, the final years of Lionel Messi may end up getting wasted.
So amidst so many growing challenges, what gives them a chance this season to fare better? After the disappointment from last season, where Barcelona were humbled in Rome, it seems as if the whole club has taken it upon themselves to regain their European stature, at all costs.
The appointment of Eric Abidal as Barcelona’s sporting director was the first step, and it was followed by smart business in the summer transfer window, where they brought in the right players to solidify their weakest links.
The introduction of Arturo Vidal, Arthur Melo and Philippe Coutinho has added strength, talent and youth to the midfield, and made it much more stable than it has been in the last few years. The squad depth this season is another comforting factor, with Arthur, Busquets, Rakitic, Coutinho, and Vidal all fighting for a first place in the team.
Unfortunately, an improvement in midfield has been eclipsed by a shocking infirmity in defence, that has been blighted by injuries and suspensions. While this is definitely recoverable, with the majority of the season still left, the attack also looks much more threatening this time. With stability in the midfield, Lionel Messi has had more freedom to play with, as is evident from the fact that his dribbling in effective areas has become more frequent.
Most importantly, the vector that decides a team’s campaign in Europe is its performance in away matches. Before decimating Tottenham at Wembley, I couldn’t remember the last time Barcelona played convincingly in an away match in the Champions League. Losses against Paris, Juventus, Roma, Manchester City and a lucky draw against Chelsea are all that come to mind from previous years.
All of it can be handed down to one major factor – the instability and weakness in midfield, which I believe has been considerably improved this season, as we saw against Tottenham at Wembley, Barcelona’s toughest match of the season so far.
A strong and able midfield that can soak up the opposition pressure, support the forwards and turn defence into attack, makes Lionel Messi much more dangerous, as he would be less often required to drop deeper to support the midfield. A more dangerous Lionel Messi makes Barcelona a much more formidable force, and that is the biggest reason why this time around, they have a much better chance of beating the European elites.
Lingering problems, however, persist with the Barcelona manager, Ernesto Valverde, whose decision-making ability has been often questioned by fans and pundits alike. Valverde, until now has not shown the tactical nous to change tough situations in matches, that has cost the team many points in the domestic league this season.
If the manager is able to figure out his best starting eleven and is able to use the squad depth to his benefit and keep players fresh before important games, Barcelona fans have more than enough reason to feel optimistic this season.
The fact that Messi has taken over the mantle of leadership, and sworn to put all of his best efforts to bring the Champions League back to the Nou Camp, has brought a sense of steely confidence in their performances in Europe so far.
Important games await as the Catalans face Italian outfit Inter Milan and Real Madrid later this month. Convincing performances in these games can certainly add to the confidence of the team.
The best player in the world is on a mission, and the early signs have certainly dispelled the gloom and diffidence that had crept in after the humiliation at Rome last season and raised hopes that the beautiful Champions League trophy can decorate the Nou Camp once again.
