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The city of Catalunya was in festive mood on Friday as Barcelona had an open-top bus parade commemorating their 21st La Liga crown.
The best team ever? Perhaps. Indeed, the debate wages amongst fans and experts within the football community. But what is certain is that Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side of 2010/2011 are the best team in Spain and should the Catalans bag a fourth European Cup by overcoming Manchester United in May’s Champions League final, few will be able to argue against the aforementioned statement.
Wednesday’s 1-1 draw away to Levante brought to an end a grueling La Liga title fight with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid who admittedly pushed their eternal-rivals all the way. Little love was lost most noticeably after the pair’s controversial Champions League semi-final double-header. Riddled with all the vices of an infighting diametrically opposed group of 22 men, that classic ‘El Clasico’ also served as a remainder that what ought not to be forgotten is that Pep Guardiola’s men are still the benchmark in what is widely renowed as Europe’s best league.
In the three years since Guardiola took over, Barcelona have won three league titles, one Copa del Rey and one European Cup in 2009. They completed a unique treble in his very first season, then added the European and Spanish Super Cups and the World Club Cup to their trophy cabinet. They have also reached a Copa del Rey and European Cup semi-final and a Copa del Rey final this season in which they narrowly lost. Not bad for a side heavily in debt.
This is Barcelona’s third successive Spanish league title. Only four coaches have achieved this before: Helenio Herrera, Miguel Muñoz, Enrique Fernández and Johan Cruyff. Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ starring Guardiola himself, and the likes of Romario, Hristo Stoichkov and Ronaldo Koeman is the only Barcelona side among them, having won four titles in a row.
Nevertheless, this side, the class of 2010/2011, have given the football world some glorious moments concomitant of its evolution and easily on par with Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’. Think back to the 5-0 demolition of Madrid back in November, or the superb 5-1 win away to Espanyol.
Even in the low-scoring matches, La Blaugrana showed the resilience and class emblematic of their quality. This was evident during an amazing 2-1 second half comeback against Valencia at the Camp Nou as well as an equally impressive 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid in September.
Of course the occasional thrashings were served out like Mike Tyson knockouts, most notably to Almeria who were annihilated 8-0 in a match where most on-lookers had lost touch of the scoreline!
Conversely, the sides’ playacting (shame on you Sergio Busquets) has taken some gloss off what is a near-perfect footballing eleven, in addition, their apparent reliance on Lionel Messi as both David Villa’s and Pedro’s form dipped substantially may cause Pep to consider strengthening in the summer.
This aside, Barca are the true football fans team. Five league titles in seven years and two Champions Leagues in five years proves that in this era, 4-3-3s and ‘Tika-Taka’ is triumphing. That can only be a good thing right? Madrid Saluda les Campiones!
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