If the majority of last weeks events were about the Jose Mourinho`s relationship with Real and Real`s failure to beat Barca, then the next few days will see the scrutiny revert back to the Blaugrana.
Yet another away day failure has left Barcelona 7 points adrift atop of the league. Even with half the season to go the odds are rapidly shortening on Madrid clinching the title for the first time in four years. Guardiola`s iron grip on the trophy is loosening day by day.
The most unpleasant thing about the current situation is that Barca have no one to blame but themselves. They have outplayed nearly every team they failed to beat, yet a mixture of profligacy and complacency have seen them too often come up short. Even the forthcoming league game against Madrid at the Nou Camp, which was meant to be the leveler can no longer save them.
The reasons for Barcelona’s lackluster league form (at least by their standards) are numerous and subjective. It could be they are suffering from Gutteman`s fabled three year rule which I alluded to in previous articles. To jog your memory the great Hungarian coach used to say he would only manage a club for a maximum of three years, as it would be impossible to maintain their intensity and hunger after that.
Whether this theory applies to Barca will only be determined at the end of the season but it is gaining credence with each passing match. The Catalans have looked invincible against the big hitters yet susceptible to the underdogs. The Blaugrana are struggling to deal with the Bathos of their fixtures. They seemed to have lost the hunger to press and harass the opposition into relinquishing possession week after week.
Dani Alves admitted as much in the aftermath of the Villareal game ,when he stated his team did not have the cohesion and balance of last season. Incorporating Fabregas and Sanchez has put the Catalan machine slightly out of sync. It is ironic that Guardiola has a stronger squad this season yet finds his team playing worse. Not that he is not grateful for the signings; given the problems Pedro and Villa have suffered this season the fortunes of Barca would be a lot worse were it not for the new recruits.
There can no getting away from the fact that last years stellar performers are not operating at same level . Messi statistics are still awesome but 4 goals away from home including a hattrick would sum up the problems. Barca have still only lost one game but it is the draws that are killing them. Fine margins perhaps but in a league where 96 points was not enough to win it two seasons ago then a draw equates to a loss.
Barca are rightly favorites for the Copa and the C.l but the league is now Madrid’s to lose. One more slip and it would be impossible to escape the conclusion Madrid have the trophy in the bag. Barca are hungry to win, but the league is not about producing your best in a one off game, the players seem unable to grasp this concept at present.
In truth from the outset of this campaign, they have relied on moments of brilliance rather than consummate team performances to win games and Guardiola has been trying to remedy this defect all season; so far without avail.
In this writers opinion the C.L is more important for Barca to cement their legacy and all but confirm their title as the greatest team of all time. Guardiola will cut off his tongue before admitting the same but he now must accept the fact Europe represents his main hope of a major trophy.
Barca under Pep have won 13/16 trophies they have participated in and expect them to win everything they enter. That scenario is virtually impossible this season. You win some you lose some as they say, Barca stand to lose this league this year and if they do it will be because of the numerous points thrown away in these first few months. Such a thought will make defeat even more painful, but the greatest team in a generation, have no one to blame but themselves.
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