Deep within Spain, two giants of football are licking their wounds from massive Champions League disappointments. With 99.9% of the world predicting an El Clasico final in this year’s Champions League, there is certainly an air of disappointment for both clubs. Real will take heart in knowing that they are about to finally snag their 32nd league title, and, in doing so, will prevent Barcelona from bringing the gap in title totals to within 10. Madrid won’t be able to solidify the changing of the guard by getting the Champions League trophy this season, but, with Pep Guardiola’s announcement on Friday that he will be departing in the summer, we have to ask if the balance of power in Spain (and perhaps in Europe) is about to shift to the Bernabeu.
Guardiola’s announcement comes on the backside of one of the most disappointing stretches in recent Barcelona history. Although, getting to the Champions League semi’s, being second in the league, and being in the Copa del Rey final, doesn’t seem like much of a disappointment for any team, for the quality and the recent performance of Barcelona, it truly is a disappointing season. Pep had led Barca to three straight Spanish league trophies, two Champions League titles, and numerous other cups since his tenure began in the ’08-’09 season, so the gap that he leaves (even with his assistant taking over) could be immeasurable. Although their squad may remain mostly unchanged in the offseason, the loss of the only coach to seem on the level of the Sir Alex’s and Jose Mourinho’s could solidify the recent shift. Guardiola has certainly seen Barcelona through one of the greatest stretches in the story of football. If there was a record of how many times this Barcelona squad had been referred to as the best all-time team, I’m sure it would be a massive number.
Real’s struggles within the shadow of their hated rival have been extremely well documented. With the arrival of Mourinho and many, many high-profile signings, the expectations have been at an all-time high for the Madrid club. Although there won’t be a 10th Champions League trophy entering into Real’s trophy cabinet this year, the victory in the league will certainly encourage supporters and players alike, especially with the way they ended up snagging the league. IF Madrid had not had to beat Barcelona to truly walk away with the title, there would have been rumblings and doubts coming from every angle. Luckily, the point stretch in the April match-up between Real and Barcelona provided the perfect situation for Madrid. The victory over Barcelona AT the Camp Nou made sure that no one will doubt that Madrid truly EARNED and won this title.
The future for Real seems very bright, and Barcelona’s future seems a bit cloudy. There is young talent in both camps, but Barcelona definitely have some key players staring old-age in the face. The midfield fulcrum that has been (and probably will continue to be) on the Ballon D’Or shortlist, Xavi, is now thirty-two years old. Now, Barcelona definitely has some younger talent on the squad, but the loss of Xavi is something that can’t even be measured. Will Fabregas be able to properly replace the midfield maestro? I don’t know if Fabregas has the patience of Xavi because Cesc has a definite propensity for getting into the box, but he certainly has massive shoes to fill. We also see Carles Puyol two years OLDER than Xavi in a position where speed is becoming more and more important. Gerard Pique is a great central defender for Barca, and Mascherano has really become a dependable option over this last season, but the loss of Puyol seems to also be one that there will be difficulty measuring.
Barcelona has also been in the mix of a plethora of transfer rumors this season. Nearly every player that is entering into their thirties (with the exception of Puyol and Xavi) has been involved in a transfer rumor of some kind. Players like David Villa and Seydou Keita have been involved all season long with transfer rumors, and both have even been linked to Premier League clubs at some point during the season. They have also seen Victor Valdes look more and more out of his depth when he has started against good teams in the Champions League. With another Spanish keeper that has proven himself for years possibly looking for greener pastures in Liverpool’s Pepe Reina, this may be a great step towards solidifying a defense that has had some issues in Europe this season.
Real have many players on the older side of things, but Mourinho has so many options at every position that any one player leaving would never have the same impact as losing Xavi or Puyol. Most of their core are rumored to return, but even their older players play a style that shouldn’t change too much with their age. Xabier Alonso never pushes too far forward and prefers to play most of his passes from deep, he also hasn’t ever been an overly physical presence, so his career doesn’t seem in much doubt as his age advances. Ricardo Carvalho is easily the oldest player on the squad, but his appearances have been so reduced this season that his advancing age isn’t very concerning. Casillas is also entering into his thirties, but for goalkeepers, their thirties usually tend to contain the best years of their careers.
The exit of Guardiola has set the stage for a fantastic transfer window and a great season in the fall. You have to wonder how much money the new Barcelona manager will be trusted with, especially since Real’s higher ups will want to make sure that they can make the push from semi-final in the CL to the final. They have already shown a major trust in Mourinho, and there is little doubt that he will have some serious financial backing entering into the summer to ensure that Real remain the top dog in Spain and Europe for years to come.
Will next season see Barcelona once again asserting the world dominance that they have produced for the past few seasons under Pep? Or will Mourinho’s Real take another step in their path towards restoring Madrid’s once constant spot at the top of the World footballing food chain? Has the power actually shifted?
About drewplaysbass
hala madrid !!
Hala Madrid!!!
Hala Madrid!!!
hala madrid!!!!
HALA MADRID!!!!!!!
I think that barcelona will be fine. I dont think it is fair to say find replacements for our older players. Every player is unique and cant be replaced. I think Barcelona needs to simply find players that fit in the team and bring thier own style. I will say however, Barcelona will buy another foward, midfielder, and defender this season.
Does any one think Alex song would fit in nice?
As I’m neutral in the Barce/Real Madrid debate I find that Madrid has a very young talented team while Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Puyol, and Dani Alves are all in their late 20s and I don’t see any youngsters at Barce that will step up to take their place. Transfers don’t always guarantee team cohesion as Real Madrid has shown in the past with sub-par performances.
As a barca fan im very sad that pep will be leaving but personally i dont think that people are giving barca enough credit. 13 out of 16 competitions won is something that is very hard to do and just cuz they had 3 bad results within a week or so there is already talk about an “end to an era”. Barca does have some young players that may be able to fill the shoes of Players such as xavi and iniesta ( example: thiago and cuenca) but nothing compared to wut madrid has on their bench. madrid is a very talented side and may be able to finally take over as the best club in the world. Barca is now going to have to work twice as hard to remain at the top of europe.
barca has many home grown players starrting to pop up in the first team more and more and i believe with some seasons left of the older players barca will stick it out mostly with what they have because more is always coming from la masia. i believe madrid will buy some more big stars in the summer because thats just the culture of real, they buy the big players, more than getting them from their youth academy.
You dont know Mourinho works, do you? Bs Mourinho not always buying big star players. He works systematicaly and reasonably. So i dont think, that he will buy some big fish. Of course he must, bs RealMadrid need good rightback(Arbeloa is not good RB) or maybe someone on DCM postion. So dont expect more than 2new players. Higuain not leave, Bezema staying.
If RealMadrid had truly good young home players, Mourinho will use them. But Madrid doesnt have this players in this days. Is more harder, if coach must buy new players than had really good home players, is more risky buy someone than give home players chance.
I think to say that 99.9% of people thought it was going to be an El Clasico final is a bit of disrespect towards Bayern Munich and their efforts in the Champions League this season. I think only people that didn’t pay FULL attention to ALL games in the Champions League would have thought Real were HEAVY favourites against the Germans
Barca don’t have any youngsters coming through?
They currently have a wealth of talent emerging between the ages of 17-20.
Thiago, Adriano, Cuenca, Tello, Sergi Roberto, Montoya, Fontas, Dos santos, Rafa Alcantara, Deulofeu, Espinosa.
Also Messi, Busquetts, Pique, Pedro, Sanchez and Fabregas are all 24 or under.
hahahahah ashley wins.
Well we can’t be hasty here. Real Madrid are a good side, that cannot be denied. However in all honesty their ability is due to them spending substantial amounts of money buying players who have made their name elsewhere. They are identical to Manchester city and yet city are flocked with stick over the matter whereas Madrid are called the best team in Europe. Apart from Casillas the rest of the first team was bought by real Madrid taking advantage of smaller clubs having financial difficulties. Whereas when you look at Barcelona, it is commendable the amount of effort they put into raising new talent. They are a club who care about making players the best players they can be, similar to arsenal. How can they be the inferior team? They do what’s best for football. I mean if some billionaire from Qatar was to start up his own team and buy all the best players in the world, would you support the? The obvious answer is no. It is not impressive in the slightest to be in awe of what real Madrid have done. They are a good footballing team but the way they throw caution to the wind when in the transfer market is a clear ignorance towards money. Barcelona on the other hand, regardless if they have had a bad season are more of a commercialy viable business. Yes they do spend money but not at an extortionate rate and yet they have still been the dominant club in the world for the past few years. I suggest real Madrid fans get off their high horse and realise that winning with a team that has been bought from smaller clubs who actually care about players is not something to be proud of.
^ So much win
You must know, that find some talented players are really hard.And let them get to A team and be TOP in world are nearly imposible. Barcelona had lucky, bs they have great generation young players from la Masia. But you know that they must wait over 20years for this generation.
You think players like Deco,Larsson,Ronaldinho,Pique,Mascherano,Henry,Etoo,Marques,Beletti,van bronckhorst,Abidal,Villa,Sanchez,Dani Alvez,…are all from Barcelona´s young player produkt? NOOO, they buy it too. How about generation Netherland´s players in Barcelona? They are proud of it?
Real Madrid had this own young generation too, it was in 90´s(Hierro,Raul,Morientes,Gutti,Casillas,…).
So there is NO SHAME, that they have money and buying good players, if they dont have good young players. It just normal things in football. So be proud if some young(own) players did it and get in A-teams. But it not necessary always. Spanish Royal family, billionaire from Quatar, or Blazer family,…whatever, money is money, and TOP football without money can not be.
For fans is good, that their TEAM wins league and they have their heroes. Is win-win situation for both.