Champions League has already started but we already know the winners. Its going to pretty much be a two horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Yes there are other potential winners, but in the top rung of teams there are only two. Other teams like Bayern Munich, Manchester United and the two Milan based teams have the potential, but really don’t have the starting 11’s or squad to compete with the Spanish Giants.
Barcelona. What can we say about them that we haven’t already? They swept all before them last year and will probably do the same this year. What’s more they have improved their squad over the summer, so it’s difficult to see how others can compete. In comes one of the most gifted midfielders on the planet, Cesc Fabregas, who would be the first name on any other team in worlds football’s team sheet, yet here he has to sit on the bench. He cant stop scoring even thought he is starting on the bench. Another big name joined the club from Udinese, one Mr. Alexis Sanchez. Few have left as well notable Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bojan Krkic and Gabriel Millito.
Their side rings with world-class players and their football is played in the purest form: pass and move. Keep possession and score goals. There team is almost out of fantasy football, Xavi, Inesta, Fabregas in midfield, up front Villa and Messi. Not to mention having one of the best coaches in world football, who has come through the Barcelona system and plays football the way Barcelona fans love it. The number of Barcelonaplayers in the starting eleven of the world cup winning team – Seven!
This is an example of the youth system that works to its maximum potential. Valdes, Pique, Fabregas, Puyol, Inesta,pedro, busquets Xavi, Messi and new superstar Thiago Alcantara have all come through their youth system. Even the Sheikh at Mancester City might go bankrupt trying to buy that team!
Their biggest strength, possession passing football. Guardiola believes in possession football, since the other team can’t score if they don’t have the ball. He has even started matches with 1 recognized defender on the pitch andpretty much all midfielders everywhere else. He probably picked this up from Johan Cruyff’s time in Charge of Barcelona.
Every one seems to relish the great passing football they play, but they are at their deadliest when other teams have the ball. All their players press opponents high up the pitch to get the ball back and no one is excluded from this. How often do you see the ball lost by the opposition and 10 sec later the balls in the back of the net? Barcelona counter attack at high speed.