Last season, under the management of Tito Vilanova – the man tasked with continuing the work of Pep Guardiola, Barcelona finished their league campaign having won the title, amassing an exceptional 100 points. In a season that was plagued by the illness of Vilanova, the Barcelona players rallied together to continue to play the “Guardiola Way” and continue the success associated with this current crop of players.
With Vilanova’s unfortunate departure in the summer, taking time out to continue treating his cancer, the Barcelona board were tasked with finding a successor. Unfortunately, Barcelona got their decision entirely wrong.
When they appointed the Argentinian Gerardo Martino this summer, many within the Barcelona set up believed that the former Paraguay boss was the “perfect fit” for the club and the “right man” to continue with Guardiola’s philosophy. This is where the problems began for Barcelona, who now find themselves 3rd in La Liga, four points behind league leaders Real Madrid. Barca under Martino look like a side whose traditions and philosophies are slowly ebbing away.
Their fluent passing game is not what it used to be, the intensity at which they play has decreased rapidly, allowing teams far too much time on the ball and the invincibility that once surrounded Barcelona and their players has evaporated over the course of this season. Can Barcelona still win the league? Yes of course they can. However, there is a greater question that needs to be answered: can they prevent the Guardiola style of play from wilting away?
The answer is no. Martino is dealing with a squad within which many players are past their best. Victor Valdes and captain Carlos Puyol will depart this summer – with the aforementioned player on his way to either New York Cosmos or the New York Red Bulls. The likes of Xavi, Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta, whilst still exceptional players are not the players they used to be.
Xavi never had much pace to begin with, but that has further declined and Dani Alves’ defensive record has worsened too. So what is the answer to Barcelona’s problems? For me it is to dispense with the services of Martino – even if they do go on to win the league after all. Dismissing the Argentinian is the right step for the club to make over the summer.
They brought him in because they believed he was the man who could continue Guardiola’s philosophy, but that has simply not happened. It’s now time for the Barcelona board to be brave and to appoint a new manager, who can implement a new philosophy at the club and ensure a long-term model for success at the Catalan club.
There will be some point in the not too distant future when the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, and Alves will move on and the Barcelona board would be looking at the situation through rose tinted glasses if they believe that they can keep on employing managers to continue the ‘Guardiola way’, when most of the players from that era have either retired or moved on.
What Barcelona must do, is recognise that they have an ageing core to their squad. Yes, this is a group of players who in their prime produced arguably the most sublime and beautiful football anyone could ever have wished to set their eyes upon, but it’s an ageing squad nevertheless.
Appointing a manager with a fresh approach and a long-term vision for the club would be a healthy change for Barcelona. This obsession with maintaining the ‘Guardiola era’ is unhealthy and is rather like insisting on taking your deceased dog on a walk around the park. You have the lead, but the dog is no long attached and no matter how many times you walk around the park, the dog is not coming back.
Who could Barcelona look to in the summer? The obvious candidates to come in and implement their philosophies would be Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp and over-achieving Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.
Outside shots for the job, but nevertheless good candidates, would be Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers, Ajax’s Frank de Boer and recently dismissed managers Andre Villas-Boas and Barca legend Michael Laudrup.
Of course this all depends on whether the Chief Executive and board members are brave enough to signal the start of a new era at the Nou Camp, with the re-development of both the stadium and their playing staff, by dismissing Gerardo Martino and waving goodbye to their obsession with the ‘Guardiola way’.
Is change needed at Barcelona? Who, if anyone, should Barcelona appoint this summer? We want to hear your views!
Follow Will Robey on Twitter: @will_robey22
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I ll lov to c bredan rodgerrrrr next summer
They obviously need change the couch and replace him with klopp or simeon. I am particularly one of those obssesed with gardiola stars but we’ve gat to start planning . We obviously nid get a replacement for xavi and build neymar’s strenghth and staminar .