What will Barça do after Messi’s Last Dance?

ESPN’s The Last Dance miniseries about the one and only Michael Jordan was well received by many when it aired recently. The miniseries discussed Michael Jordan’s career and his final season with the Chicago Bulls. Of course, talk on Barça social media was how much they looked forward to a similar miniseries made about Lionel Messi when his playing days are over. Yet, as much as I look forward to enjoying a miniseries about Messi, I am also concerned of about Barça after Messi’s last dance with the Blaugrana.

The idea of Messi walking away from football struck a nerve last December when Messi addressed the media after winning the Ballon d'Or for a record-breaking sixth time. Messi said, "I'm aware of how old I am. And I enjoy these moments so much because I know that retirement is approaching. Time flies." Barça fans have been under the illusion that Messi was eternal and would play on forever. Yet, that December night woke Barça fans from their stupor and made them realize that nothing lasts forever.

All good things must come to an end, and the day Messi walks off the pitch as a Barça player will be one of the most gut-wrenching days as a fan. Messi has been representing the Blaugrana for almost 20 years, ever since his arrival from Argentina as a young teenager who made his way through La Masia ranks before reaching the first team and becoming a married 32-year-old man who is also a father to three children. Throughout those years, the one constant was Messi representing FC Barcelona. Eventually, we will have to bid farewell to Messi when the wonderful magician walks off the pitch as for the final time as a Barça player. However, is the club ready for when that day arrives?

Since I started following my beloved Blaugrana, I have seen a couple of great eras and great players come and go. The club survived after they sacked Johan Cruyff and survived after Pep Guardiola left the club in 2012. The club survived after Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho departed the club. But there is a cause for concern about of FC Barcelona after the departure of Messi.

The Chicago Bulls never tasted success before Michael Jordan’s arrival and have not since his departure. The Bulls allowed their successful coach, Phil Jackson, and Dennis Rodman to walk away while trading Scottie Pippen to Portland. The Bulls began a new era with Toni Kukoč as their best player with the hopes of enticing other players to join their team. However, players ignored the Bulls and their history and opted to join other teams while the Bulls slowly slid into an abyss of failure. Also, the successful Boston Celtics of the 80s paid the price for not having players ready to step in for Larry Bird and Kevin McHale when they retired in the early 90s and would struggle for many years until becoming competitive again. I am concerned that Barça seem to be following in the footsteps of the Bulls and Celtics regarding future planning of the squad at the moment and when Messi retires. Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué are both 33, and Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are both 31. While Frenkie de Jong seems to be Busquets’ successor, the club still lacks the necessary successors for those other players, and for Messi as well.

The grand plan of former Barça president, Sandro Rosell, was for Neymar to be Messi’s heir apparent, either after they sold Messi or after Messi left the Blaugrana. However, that plan went down in flames when Neymar opted to join Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in 2017. Barça received quite the windfall, €222 million, from Neymar’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain but the club squandered that fortune on expensive transfers that have failed to deliver. Barça splashed €105 million on Ousmane Dembélé whose bad luck with injuries have frustrated the fans. Coutinho cost €145 million and lasted a season and a half before being sent out on loan. Meanwhile, Liverpool used that €145 million to sign Virgil van Dijk and Alisson and win the Champions League.

While looking ahead to determine what signings Barça need to make, one has to wonder how dire is Barça’s current economic situation when they cannot afford to sign Neymar or Inter’s Lautaro Martínez without selling other players first. They were able to gobble up players before, but now, Barça seem to have tightened the belt across their waist twice. Will they have the financial capability to sign other “Cracks” when Messi leaves or is the financial hole they’ve dug themselves into is far too deep to crawl out from?

We lived through this financial mismanagement under Joan Gaspart’s presidency and it took Joan Laporta a year to clear the club’s deadwood. Elections are next year and will the next Barça president have the funds needed to replace Messi and strengthen the team? Moreover, will the next Barça president be brave or crazy enough to contemplate the thought of selling Messi to recoup the funding needed to pay off the club’s debts and sign new players. Besides Messi, the only players that could warrant a big transfer value are Marc-André ter Stegen, Arthur Melo, Frenkie de Jong and a healthy Ousmane Dembélé.

If Messi walks away, careful planning will be needed to usher in the new Barça project. This club will always rebound but the appropriate decisions need to be made to ensure a smooth transition to life without Messi and not become what Manchester United and A.C. Milan are today. Failure to do so will be catastrophic for this club.

Barça are Finally Ruthless.

Throughout this past decade, Barça have entertained us and disappointed us. Along with the highs, there have been lows that have frustrated the fan base. One of my major complaints about this team, dating from Guardiola to last season, was their lack of being ruthless. However, under Valverde, it appears that this team has figured out how to be ruthless at the perfect time.

Besides the treble season under Luis Enrique, Barça had this tendency to let up instead of be ruthless. Time and time again, we would witness Real Madrid go through a crisis while their manager is on the hot seat. A victory over their bitter rival would have sent the Blancos into turmoil. However, instead of going for the kill, Barça would allow Real Madrid to escape their clutches and grab a victory in El Clasico that would give them some momentum and avert disaster.

This year however, Barça finally discovered how to be cold blooded. Real Madrid had already fired one manager, Lopetegui, after Barça defeated them 5-1 at the Camp Nou back in October. Under Solari, Real Madrid were facing Barça in three matches while trying to clinch a spot in the Champions League Quarter-Finals, a spot in the Copa del Rey Final, and try to stave off elimination from the league chase. The final two matches were going to be played in Madrid’s stadium and any positive result was going to inspire them onwards.

Fortunately, Barça managed not to lose all three games while also subjecting Real Madrid to suffer back to back defeats to their arch enemy in front of their own fans.  The consequences of these results saw Real Madrid then crash out of the Champions League following a 4-1 crushing defeat at home to Ajax Amsterdam. As a result, Solari was fired and Zidane was brought back. However, the damage was done. Madrid’s season ended in March and they had nothing left to play for.

Barça finally showed that they knew how to go for the kill and proved it a few weeks ago when Barça also defeated Atletico Madrid to increase their lead atop of the league standings while Atletico’s league aspirations suffered a terrible blow. A loss would have reduced Barça’s league lead to just five points between them. Instead, it’s now an 11-point cushion and it would take a total collapse for the Blaugrana to not win the league title. Barça’s momentum carried on outside of Spain when they defeated Manchester United for the first time at Old Trafford in the first leg of their Champions League Quarter-Finals.

The quest for the treble still is alive and Barça need to remain sharp and focused as the season comes to an end. Hopefully they can continue to be ruthless and continue to go for the kill. This is their moment and they must seize it and never relinquish it, and they can only do that if they continue to remain ruthless.

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.

Stomaching Losses: Close Loss v Blowout Loss?

So Florida State's run for a second consecutive NCAA Football title were obliterated yesterday in Pasadena. Oregon Ducks showed and destroyed a FSU team that paid the price for remaining sloppy with the football. The final score was 59-20 and that will sting for a long time. The blowout loss made me recall a conversation I previously heard on a sports radio show regarding which is worse; Blowout losses versus Close losses.

As a fan, you experience your team winning and losing. For some reason, I seem to recall the losses better than my team's victories. Hopefully there are only a few others who dwell on losses as I do. Some losses that come to mind are my Buccaneers losing to the Rams in the 1999-2000 NFC Championship Game 11-6; Holland losing to Spain 1-0 in the 2010 World Cup Final, and FC Barcelona losing those two Copa del Rey finals to Real Madrid in recent memory. Fortunately, I have enjoyed seeing my teams in different sports win titles so I will not grow old to be a bitter man like most Boston Red Sox fans were before 2004.

Nevertheless, yesterday's FSU loss to Oregon was difficult. However, if I have to decide which type of loss I would rather witness my team suffer; then I would choose a close loss over a blowout loss. 

A close loss makes it seem that the team played hard and either didn't get the ball or puck to bounce their way. A blowout loss makes it seem that the team did not even bother to show up. Case in point, Barça were eliminated by Manchester United in the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals, by Manchester United on a 1-0 aggregate score while in the 2012-2013 edition, Barça were eliminated at the same stage to Bayern Munich by an aggregate score of 7-0. Without a doubt, the 7-0 will haunt me for a long time. It was not a matter of what if this shot went in or if the referee had not missed a call. Barça were second best by a mile and I'd rather not relive that type of result in the future again.

In conclusion, I prefer my teams to win but if they do suffer a loss, then count me in as one of those who prefer his team losses a close one.

Testimonials for La Liga Legends Obsolete.

Images of Valerón in tears following Deportivo’s La Corona’s relegation signaled the sad state of the Galician club. It also signaled perhaps the end of a great career for the legendary Valerón. Injuries have deprived us one of the best midfielders Spain produced the past 25 years.  As the heart broken Valerón walked off the pitch, part of me thought that he would get a proper farewell with a proper testimonial match. However, the sad realization is that this event will never take place since it is not relevant for Spanish clubs as it is for clubs in other domestic leagues.

Club legends always seem to receive testimonials when they call it a day; unless they are Ryan Giggs who received his over a decade ago. Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial match christened Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Paul Scholes had his at Old Trafford back in August 2011 before he decided to opt out of retirement and return to Manchester United. Demetrio Albertini had his testimonial match with Milan back in 2006. Phillip Cocu will have his testimonial later on this month by PSV. Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial match will take place next month when Manchester United will host Sevilla on August 9th while Steven Gerrard will have his a few days earlier at Anfield when Liverpool host Olympiakos. Coincidentally, Real Madrid legend Raul will also be honored with a testimonial on July 27th.

However, that testimonial will be held in Germany thanks to his former club FC Schalke 04.  Yet, what is even more mind boggling is that Raul will have a testimonial held in his honor by FC Schalke 04 and not by Real Madrid. It is unfathomable that one of the greatest players to ever represent Los Blancos  has not received a testimonial. For some reason, La Liga clubs do not hold testimonials for their players; just participate in them. FC Barcelona played in Albertini’s testimonial in 2006 while Real Madrid participated in Majed Ahmed Abdullah’s testimonial match in Saudi Arabia back in 2008. Yet, former legends for both Madrid and Barça have not had any testimonial matches held in their honor recently.

You have to go back to the mid 90’s to recall any testimonials for legends of either club. Hugo Sanchez had his testimonial back in 1997while Johan Cruyff had one testimonial at the Camp Nou, and another at Amsterdam Arena in the late 90’s. However, the chances of seeing a testimonial for legends of either club who had retired last decade won’t be happening anytime soon. Pep Guardiola never got one when he retired. Redondo, Luis Enrique, Michel Salgado, Gabri and Morientes are just a few of who also never got a testimonial when they quit playing too.

I asked a friend of mine, Angel Iturriaga, why testimonials are not held more often for La Liga players. He informed me that they were common in the past but most Spanish clubs decided not to have them anymore. As for why, he was not sure but the basic explanation was there wasn’t enough time for clubs to host these kinds of games. Angel believes that this was a big mistake but indicated that that the mindset of the fans in Spain tend to focus only the players presently playing for their clubs and not look back on past players. So the chances that Valerón will have a testimonial held in his honor are pretty much slim to none.

Former Madrid captain Hierro did get some sort of tribute from Real Madrid after he retired in 2005. However, that tribute was a brief ceremony prior to the Madrid derby kicking off. Lately, we have seen retired Madrid stars team up in friendly matches against other clubs’ retired stars. There are also a La Liga Indoor Football league which features retired players. Those are great for brief moments of nostalgia in the same manner as watching retired tennis and golf players playing on the senior tour circuit.

 Hopefully La Liga clubs will change their attitudes towards testimonials when the likes of Puyol, Xavi, Valerón, Marchena, Albelda, Marcos Senna, and Palop retire one day. There was a testimonial held recently in memory of deceased Espanyol captain, Daniel Jarque, who was unexpectedly taken from us too soon back in 2009. Hopefully those types of testimonials become scarce and prevented as players’ health concerns will spotted by club’s medical staff. Perhaps though, it might kick start the trend of testimonial matches again to celebrate La Liga players and bid them farewell in a proper manner. Nevertheless, Raul cannot be ignored and Real Madrid should do the right thing and hold a testimonial match in his honor someday. The same applies to all those players in Spain who have served their clubs well over the years. They do deserve one final send off before they ride out into the sunset.

Pep to Bayern Munich Makes Plenty Of Sense.

So Guardiola decided to let the world know his next coaching destination. Some expected this decision to come in the summer, not January, but Pep is going to Germany. Although many thought he would be in the Premier League or Serie A, Pep will be heading to the Bundesliga. I always thought Bayern Munich was good fit for Pep. It appears Pep thought so too.

Bayern are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and in the world, in terms of history, financial strength and current standing as one of the powerhouses in European football. Although Barça have won two of the last four Champions League titles, Bayern played in the two other finals that Barça did not participate in, albeit they lost those two finals. So Pep is walking into a well-established team that has its house in order.

Some though are still surprised that he went to Bayern. Why? Look at the team he is going to inherit.  Pep is going to a team that has great talent and financial clout. Additionally, how many Bayern players were linked to Barça as potential transfers during Pep’s era at the club? Robben was linked to the left winger position but Madrid were not going to sell him to their arch enemy. Ribery was supposedly going to be signed by either Barça or Madrid which never happened. Lahm was linked to left back position and Mario Gomez was also one of those numerous strikers linked to the club for his aerial goal scoring capability. So if you can’t get them, join them.

Of course Pep’s problem will be communication with the players unless he picked up German and English while living in New York.  He is going to a heavy weight in the German league that can compete for a treble every season for the three years that he will be there.  It will not be a pressure free environment because the expectations at Bayern are always high, especially after what the disappointments they have been through these last three years. I also wonder if he going to tolerate having Uli Hoeness sit on the bench at home matches. I remember seeing him on the bench next to Klinsmann when Barça went to Munich for their second leg Champions League Quarter-Finals tie and it struck me as very odd and a nuisance. I doubt Pep will be tolerating that sort of thing when he’s there.

Now some wonder why didn’t Pep sign for three years when he was at Barça. Pep was hired when the club was going through some turmoil. Just a few months after it was announced that Pep would replace Rijkaard, then president Laporta survived a vote of no confidence before he was to step down a year later after his term ended. Thus, there was some uncertainty at the presidency level of the club so he wasn’t walking into a cushy job where he was going to be working with the same people for a long time. I also don’t think he was a fan of Sandro Rosell and wanted to see how things would work out with a new president and my gut feeling tells me that they didn’t see eye to eye. Perhaps, he knew staying at Barça was a very tough job and ultimately would end ugly which reminds of that great line uttered in The Dark Knight“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Now the bigger concern is whether Pep will raid Barça for talent and only time will tell. It sure will be awkward to see him represent any other FCB except our own. He will be with them for three years and then, he will see if that Manchester United job is available. It seems that’s the job Pep has always wanted and I don’t think he was ever going to join Manchester City because Pep is not the type to upset fans and jump ship to United. Also, Chelsea’s way of handling managers probably made that job too toxic for his liking. Bayern makes sense for now. If the United job is available, Pep will go for it.It’s not going to be a cushy job because there are high expectations at the German club much like Barça Pep will be up to it and if he ever faces Barça in the future, then we’ll applaud him prior to kick off and then hope Barça beats Bayern.

It’s too soon for greatest team ever talk.