Player of the Season nominees: Andres Iniesta

The situation on the field was not any different from 2011-12 for Iniesta. When the ball landed at Iniesta’s feet, defenders flocked around him, anticipating his trickery to dumbfound them. The modest man, like always, denied constant claims throughout the season that his feet were supernatural but is it a mere coincidence that he keeps repeating such unworldly performances on the turf? Rightfully, he was named in the shortlist of three players in the running for the Ballon D’Or and finished in the Squad of the Year.

He wasn’t silent for Spain either. His prowess ensured Spain’s smooth sailing towards qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the matter wasn’t different in an International friendly either. In a match against Panama, his two assists set the tone for a 5-0 Spanish rout. A regular in the Spanish squad, Iniesta’s leadership and comprehension of the game better those around him. Like Fernando Torres once exclaimed, not many see Iniesta perform poorly.

This past season illustrated a new role for Andres Iniesta as well. From a more goal scoring mentality under Pep Guardiola, he had to adapt to a more playmaker sort of role under the new Vilanova system. He didn’t fail. At the end of the season, his statistics read 19 assists and 6 goals in all competitions for Barcelona, with a contributive 3 assists and 1 goal for Spain. His 16 assists in La Liga saw him end the season with more assists than any player. The statistics were not as monstrous as 2011-12 for Andres Iniesta where he was voted as UEFA’s 2011-12 European Player of the Year. However, it was safe to bet that Barcelona needed its midfield maestro in full throttle in order to function efficiently. When Iniesta didn’t show up, Barcelona struggled miserably, like the ruination against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey.

What to expect in the coming season?

2013-14 will be a tough season for Andres Iniesta and Barcelona. Coming off a scrutinized 2012-13, they were bullied out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich and only managed to seal the La Liga as their sole crown. Real Madrid will be spending extravagantly to bridge the gap between the two El Clasico rivals and several teams in the Europe are in the running to land top quality players. Coach Tito Vilanova will need his players going all guns blazing come this August. And he sure can expect Iniesta to lead the way.

Iniesta does have a big job on his hands, leading Barcelona and Spain in 2013-14. While stories and predictions have already begun to script about the domestic season, Iniesta’s first focus will be ensuring Spain’s successful path to victory in the Confederations Cup. After a lack-luster 2009 campaign where they finished a disappointing third, Spain will look forward to better their result this time around in Brazil. If Spain manages to win its first Confederations Cup this time around, it might prove to be the right encouragement for Iniesta heading into 2013-14 for Barcelona.

Click here to view the rest of the Player of the Season nominees