Barça’s Battle Against Recent History.

After another historic treble season, Barça face the daunting task of trying to win it all again. Recent history though does not favor the Blaugrana and makes this season very challenging.

Another season is upon us and what Barça accomplished last season was phenomenal. However, what took place last season is now one for the history books. The days of reminiscing are over and Barça now need to focus on how history will remember this current team. It is never easy defending a title the ensuing season. Teams are gunning for the champions and that bullseye on the back can become a heavy burden. Barça went from being the hunters to being the hunted in a matter of months. Sometimes, it’s not good to be the king.

Barça winning the treble for the second time is historic in so many ways. They are the only European club to ever capture the treble twice, which is quite an achievement since only six other clubs in Europe have ever won the treble. Obviously, expecting Barça to win back to back trebles is asking a lot from the Blaugrana players.

Asking Barça to capture back to back Champions League titles alone is a challenging task itself. No club since the 1989-1990 Milan side has repeated as Champions League winners and that was back when it was known as the European Cup. Back then, only league winners could participate. Now, we have 5 Spanish clubs playing in this upcoming Champions League competition. Since the European Cup became the Champions League before the 1992-1993 season, not one single team has repeated as champions. Can Barça do it?

Furthermore, history is not on the side of Barça when it comes to Champions League success in seasons that precede an international summer competition. Sure, Barça won their first two Champions League titles in 1992 and 2006, which took place before Euro 92 and World Cup 2006. The schedule was not congested back in 1992 since there were less countries in Europe trying to qualify for Euro 92, and the tournament only had 8 teams competing in it. This allowed Barça to play once a week most of the time which gave the players adequate rest between matches. When Barça won the league with a 12 point advantage during the 2005-2006 season, the schedule was congested. Yet, they benefitted from enjoying a large enough gap in the standings which allowed them to rotate players down the stretch to keep them fresh. Moreover, Barça were eliminated from the Copa del Rey on both occasions back in January which also meant less matches for them during the second half of the season.

Since then however, Barça have won the Champions League only during a season that did not have an international summer competition preceding it. The 2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2014-2015 seasons did not have a World Cup or Euro Cup afterwards. Thus, those types of seasons are not forced to have two matches a week like this season. That extra rest between matches, like last season, helped keep the team fresh down the stretch. However, Euro 2016 takes place this summer and Barça’s schedule will be congested once European and Copa del Rey matches commence.

Another task that awaits Barça is winning the league crown again. During this century, only six times have clubs gone on to win the league title after winning the Champions League title the previous season. Real Madrid in 2000 and 2003, Milan in 2004, Manchester United in 2009, Barça in 2010, and Bayern in 2014 have managed to pull off that feat. Barça managed to do it in 1993 but fell short in 2007 and 2011. Madrid also fell short in 1999 and last season. So Barça will have their work cut out for them if they want to repeat as league champions. An early elimination from Copa del Rey, though disappointing, would lend a helping hand in their conquest for league or European success.

As for repeating as Copa del Rey winners? It is possible. After all, Barça have reached the Copa del Rey Final four out of the last five editions. The last side to repeat as Copa del Rey winners were Barça during the Bobby Robson Luis van Gaal seasons in the late 90’s. Before them, Atlético Madrid did it in the early 90s. Again, Barça have played in consecutive Copa del Rey Finals twice in the past 5 years so it is possible.

Success though can impose a heavy hardship on a champion. The additional matches that come with winning titles can take a toll on a team. Playing the UEFA Super Cup and Supercopa before or during the start of a season can be taxing following international summer tours to reach out to foreign markets and fan bases. It is also grueling for teams to have to travel overseas for the FIFA Club World Cup in December. Unfortunately for Barça, this year’s cup takes place in Japan and not the closer venue of Morocco, so the players will have to endure more fatigue and jet lag too in their pursuit of success.

The key for Barça this season is to remain healthy and fresh while taking the one match at a time approach. Fatigue and injuries, as was the case this past weekend when Dani Alves and Busquets went down with injuries, are part of the game and that’s where squad depth will either help or hinder the team. It is a long but congested season where Barça fans will be fortunate to watch their team play twice a week often. However, it will also be grueling for the players as they battle history while attempting to make history.

Thanks for the Memories, Pedro.

We look back at Pedro's time with Barça with his most memorable moments.

With Pedro bidding farewell to Barça, Blaugrana fans will loss a player who might not have been the most talented player to ever play for Barça, but one who played his heart out for the club. We look back at his time with the club with his most memorable goals that he scored for Barça.

UEFA Super Cup Shakhtar 2009-2010

This is the goal that put him on the map. Not many knew who Pedro was when he came on the pitch to replace Ibrahimovic. Nevertheless, he broke the scoreless deadlock and began the path to become the first player to score a goal in six different competitions.

2009 FIFA Club World Cup Estudiantes

The equalizing goal that seemed unlikely to happen. Pedro’s header in the 88th minute forced the game into extra time where Messi would score the game winner against Estudiantes. The latter would not have happened if not for Pedro’s goal.

El Clasico 2009-2010

The insurance goal that sealed victory and all but clinched the 2009-2010 league title for Barça. Xavi once again with the superb through ball and Pedro timed his run perfectly and somehow did not lose the ball as two defenders tried to close him down but he somehow managed to get an effort on goal that got past Casillas.

El Clasico 2010-2011

Pedro was thorn in Madrid's side twice that season. He scored the second goal the night the Manita took place. He also scored the only goal at the Camp Nou in the Champions League Semi-Finals that was the nail in Madrid’s coffin.

2011 Champions League Final at Wembley

This was the opening goal in the 2011 Champions League Final. Superb through ball from Xavi and Pedro showed great calmness by controlling the before before slotting it in for the opening goal.

2012 Copa del Rey Final

Guardiola’s final match as Barça manager. During the season, Pep had somehow ignored Pedro for the likes of Alexis and Tello. Pedro scored a brace in the first half and Pep had this to say about him afterwards. "Pedro is a fantastic player. I was just asking myself why I didn't play him more.” 

2012-2013 PSG Champions League Quarter-Finals

Second half equalizer that ensured that Barça would advance to the next round. Messi came off the bench and found Villa inside the box who then somehow passed it to Pedro with his first touch. Pedro blasted it in and the game would end in a 1-1 draw that helped Barça advance on away goals rule.

2-5 Getafe Pedro hattrick 2013-2014

It was a great comeback by the team that was without Valdés, Messi and Neymar, and found themselves down 2-0 after 15 minutes. It looked hopeless yet these guys battled back through a Pedro hat trick before the halftime whistle and then Cesc scored a brace in the second half for a2-5 win. Hat trick in 8 minutes.His first goal was from outside the box with the keeper halfway inside his box. He managed to get a hand on it but that was not enough. Equalizer, cuts in from the left side and right footed it into the top corner. Third goal was the difference as he got onto a rebound and blasted it over a sprawling defender and past the keeper with a strong blast.

Chilena v Real Sociedad 2014-2015

The goal that some would say clinched last season’s league title for Barca. Off the bench, Pedro came in and scored this amazing Chilena goal to remind us that he still some magic in his goal scoring shoes.

2015 UEFA Super Cup Sevilla

With talks of Pedro wanting to leave and Neymar out with the mumps, it seemed like he would start this past UEFA Super Cup. Instead, he was on the bench just as he was six years ago and once again, Pedro came off the bench and scored the game winning goal in extra time. His final golden moment and goal for the club.

Pedro Will Be Missed.

Pedro is no longer a Barça player. The player that no one expected to amount to much leaves Barça as a legend.

The player from the Canary Islands that exceeded everyone’s expectations. Not many were aware of Pedro back in the summer of 2008. Pep Guardiola was in charge of the first team and had called up Barça B players to be part of the summer preseason and although Busquets turned out to be the revelation from La Masia, Pedro was not that far behind. Guardiola promoted Pedro the following season and his career took off.

Pedro’s career is what dreams are made of. When Pedro was on the first team, he had the likes of Henry, Bojan, and Ibrahimovic all fighting to play up front with Messi during the 2009-2010 season. Yet, just a year later, it was #17 who was starting up front with Messi and David Villa and scored the opening goal for Barça in their 3-1 victory over Manchester United at the new Wembley stadium.

Pedro’s first three years with Barça were magical for the player and the club. During his first season, 2009-2010, he became the first player to ever score in all six club competitions in one year. Only Messi was able to reach that feat two years later. Pedro was clutch in most big games and he was also one of the least selfish players when he stepped on the pitch. He always put the team first such as his pass to Neymar during the Champions League Final against Juventus. He could have tried to score but opted to do what was the best for the team, and pass it to Neymar instead who did score. That’s the sort of player that he was. During that period, his performances for the Blaugrana earned him a call up to the Spanish national team. Although he did not play a huge part in the team’s success, he was a member of the Spanish national team that won both the World Cup and European Cup. His rise from nowhere to the top was all but complete.

I will always remember Pedro for his relentless work ethic on the pitch. Pedro was not just about goals. Far from it! He provided many assists to his teammates and also played his heart out on both sides of the pitch. He was always a machine out there by never letting up on both sides of the pitch. He was the first guy to chase after the other team’s goal keeper if he had the ball, and was usually one of the few forwards to track back to help out on defense. His work ethic was second to none and hopefully Munir and Sandro can at least bring that sort of effort on the pitch for Barça this season.

Even though he was not the superstar caliber player such as Messi, Henry, David Villa, Neymar and Luis Suarez, Pedro still shined along with those players. Unfortunately, his good run started to slow down in 2012. Injuries and too many games saw Pedro lose a bit of his scoring touch and minutes become harder to come by when the club signed Alexis, then Neymar before signing Suarez. It’s hard to shine when you cannot play as much and his departure was in pursuit of more minutes in hopes of getting another call up by Spain for Euro 2016. Barça’s loss is Chelsea’s gain. Chelsea are getting a very good player; just not a very good scorer. However, he is a very hard worker which is the type of player that Mourinho likes and hopefully, one the fans there will appreciate. It is somewhat fitting that the guy that not many expected to shine leaves Barça just one goal shy from 100. He is the sort of player that stats cannot justify or tell the complete story of just how important he was to the team. In the end, Pedro is a Barça legend in my book. Thanks for everything, Pedro.

Thanks for the Memories, Pedro.

We look back at Pedro's time with Barça with his most memorable moments.

With Pedro bidding farewell to Barça, Blaugrana fans will loss a player who might not have been the most talented player to ever play for Barça, but one who played his heart out for the club. We look back at his time with the club with his most memorable goals that he scored for Barça.

UEFA Super Cup Shakhtar 2009-2010

This is the goal that put him on the map. Not many knew who Pedro was when he came on the pitch to replace Ibrahimovic. Nevertheless, he broke the scoreless deadlock and began the path to become the first player to score a goal in six different competitions.

2009 FIFA Club World Cup Estudiantes

The equalizing goal that seemed unlikely to happen. Pedro’s header in the 88th minute forced the game into extra time where Messi would score the game winner against Estudiantes. The latter would not have happened if not for Pedro’s goal.

El Clasico 2009-2010

The insurance goal that sealed victory and all but clinched the 2009-2010 league title for Barça. Xavi once again with the superb through ball and Pedro timed his run perfectly and somehow did not lose the ball as two defenders tried to close him down but he somehow managed to get an effort on goal that got past Casillas.

El Clasico 2010-2011

Pedro was thorn in Madrid's side twice that season. He scored the second goal the night the Manita took place. He also scored the only goal at the Camp Nou in the Champions League Semi-Finals that was the nail in Madrid’s coffin.

2011 Champions League Final at Wembley

This was the opening goal in the 2011 Champions League Final. Superb through ball from Xavi and Pedro showed great calmness by controlling the before before slotting it in for the opening goal.

2012 Copa del Rey Final

Guardiola’s final match as Barça manager. During the season, Pep had somehow ignored Pedro for the likes of Alexis and Tello. Pedro scored a brace in the first half and Pep had this to say about him afterwards. "Pedro is a fantastic player. I was just asking myself why I didn't play him more.” 

2012-2013 PSG Champions League Quarter-Finals

Second half equalizer that ensured that Barça would advance to the next round. Messi came off the bench and found Villa inside the box who then somehow passed it to Pedro with his first touch. Pedro blasted it in and the game would end in a 1-1 draw that helped Barça advance on away goals rule.

2-5 Getafe Pedro hattrick 2013-2014

It was a great comeback by the team that was without Valdés, Messi and Neymar, and found themselves down 2-0 after 15 minutes. It looked hopeless yet these guys battled back through a Pedro hat trick before the halftime whistle and then Cesc scored a brace in the second half for a2-5 win. Hat trick in 8 minutes.His first goal was from outside the box with the keeper halfway inside his box. He managed to get a hand on it but that was not enough. Equalizer, cuts in from the left side and right footed it into the top corner. Third goal was the difference as he got onto a rebound and blasted it over a sprawling defender and past the keeper with a strong blast.

Chilena v Real Sociedad 2014-2015

The goal that some would say clinched last season’s league title for Barca. Off the bench, Pedro came in and scored this amazing Chilena goal to remind us that he still some magic in his goal scoring shoes.

2015 UEFA Super Cup Sevilla

With talks of Pedro wanting to leave and Neymar out with the mumps, it seemed like he would start this past UEFA Super Cup. Instead, he was on the bench just as he was six years ago and once again, Pedro came off the bench and scored the game winning goal in extra time. His final golden moment and goal for the club.

Bullseye on Barça’s Back Returns.

Barça are about to kick off a new season as Champions of Europe. Their return to the top guarantees that every club will be gunning for them. Can they maintain being the hunters or will they become the hunted?

As the old saying goes, “it’s good to be the king.” Barça are the kings again and today, they kick off the new season by facing Sevilla for the UEFA Super Cup. Last time these two clubs in this Final marked the beginning of the end for Rijkaard’s Barça era. Luis Enrique will now get to experience what Cruyff, Rijkaard, and Guardiola had to face after winning the Champions League as Barça managers.

The pressure is already on to win the remaining three cups for the sextuple; UEFA Super Cup, Super Copa, and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, the bigger challenge is trying to repeat as Champions League winners. The more demanding challenge would be trying to win back to back trebles. The club has the players to pull this feat but will it happen is another question.

Since Euro 2016 will take place this summer, the domestic fixtures will see the club play twice a week quite often unlike last season where sometimes Barça enjoyed 6 or 7 days of rest between matches. This season will take a toll on the players so rotation will be a must to keep players healthy for all three competitions again. Abidal’s battles with cancer and Neymar’s recent mumps situation should also serve a caution that anything is possible when it comes to player’s health. Coaching staff and players have to watch out for themselves on and off the pitch.

When you’re on the top, everyone wants to take you down. Barça will have many clubs gunning for them and the coaching staff and players will have to try their best to thwart their efforts. Today will be the first step in a long journey of playing football with the bullseye on their backs. They have surprised us before so they deserve our faith and hopefully they reward our faith with more titles by taking it one game at a time.