Who would ever want to be Barcelona manager?
You are permanently in the world’s view, constantly under scrutiny and always just a bad result away from the anxiety. After the beginning of Ronald Koeman’s reign as Barcelona boss, it looked as if he would be another face to be dismissed from the Camp Nou excavation.
After ten La Liga matches, Barcelona was in seventh place in the table after collecting only 14 points. La Blaugrana had lost four and drawn two of those ten, culminating in a shocking 2-1 loss to Cadiz in early December – the sound of ‘Koeman Out’ rang loudly.
.It’s really hard to explain, because we had a good week. – @RonaldKoeman, on the defeat at Cádiz pic.twitter.com/jrGX7ZmqHq
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 5 December 2020
But fast forward almost six months and things have changed. Barcelona are now third in the La Liga table, two points behind second-placed Real Madrid and five leaders Atletico with one game on both.
In the 20 subsequent league matches from the Cadiz defeat, Koeman’s side has mostly been unstoppable. La Blaugrana have won 16 matches and drawn three, losing only their first La Liga match in 2021 against Real Madrid almost two weeks ago. They have, seemingly out of nowhere, mounted a realistic and threatening title fee.
Of course, it has been low throughout the season – well-documented declines. Their 4-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the first stage of the match in the Champions League round 16 was nothing short of humiliating. Even if they surpassed their Parisian counterparts in reverse, Koeman’s side could only collect a 1-1 draw and drop them out of the competition they are so desperate to succeed again.
But what we must not forget is that this Barcelona squad is one in transition. There will always be outrageous results and European success will always be out of reach this season.
A defeated Lionel Messi when Barcelona crashes out of the Champions League | Xavier Laine / Getty Images
However, La Blaugrana’s last outing was a testament to a progressive transition and created a successful side. A 4-0 thumping Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey final gave Koeman his first taste of cutlery as Barcelona manager and showed a winning and positive mentality that has recurred among the players.
Lionel Messi stole the headlines with a brace and a captivating performance to inspire his side to glory. The Barça captain’s first was particularly fascinating, as he rolled back the years to show devastating feet and calm that a normal man could only dream of.
While Messi’s magical performance showed that his heart was still at the club, it was a night for the new guard to enjoy. Frenkie de Jong was absolutely everywhere during the 90’s and was as worth the man of the match as his captain, registering two assists and scoring a goal himself.
MAGICAL FROM MESSI! ??
A moment of absolute genius, vintage Barcelona, and they are now well on their way to picking up another Copa del Rey trophy ?? pic.twitter.com/SWWOhMEIkB
– Premier Sports? (@PremierSportsTV) April 17, 2021
The Dutchman has been crucial for Barcelona this season, especially since Koeman switched to a back three – which has coincided with La Blaugrana’s monumental rise in form – and is a hallmark of the club’s transition period, which is sure to set the stage for this year to come. .
Koeman also trusts young people. Pedri has lit up the Camp Nou since arriving from Las Palmas in the summer and immediately established himself as an irreplaceable start. The child has participated in all but one of Barça’s 46 matches this semester and has contributed nine goals.
The 18-year-old has refuted his boss’ faith with energetic, persistent and beautifully skilled performances throughout the campaign and seems to have created a special and almost telepathic bond with Messi – reminiscent of the Argentine’s relationship with Ronaldinho at night – to personify the Catalan side’s transition.
The campaign for players such as Riqui Puig, Ilaix Moriba and Oscar Mingueza – who stands out as a first team on a regular basis – shows Koeman’s ability to nurture young players and develop their qualities. The Dutchman’s introduction has enabled a cultural shift to produce and promote talent from La Masia, rather than splashing cash like Arda Turan, Paulinho or Miralem Pjanic (just to name a few) – in Barcelona’s current financial situation, this is integrated into the club’s future.
Pedri and Lionel Messi – Representation of Barcelona’s current transfer | Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
It has not been the best season for the Catalan club; It’s done. A demoralizing defeat against PSG to bow out of Europe’s elite club competition is what most people remember. But there have been peaks; for a side that transitions into a new era, a strong title fee thanks to a rather phenomenal form run and the Copa del Rey success is impressive.
Messi can steal headlines from left, right and center right now, but a very exciting, promising and successful new guard representing La Blaugrana’s future is behind him – and that’s thanks to their boss’ confidence and tactical versatility.
After ten games into the season, you may have forgiven Koeman for not wanting to be a Barcelona boss, but he is now driving this side really well into a new and exciting era.
