I think we have lost the feeling of what it's like to have a great manager overseeing things since Pep, so that every single average manager who has some redeeming qualities is instantly seen as great. In reality, when you look at the managers that other teams have, we just missed the mark big time in the last decade.
Not since Guardiola do I have the feeling we have a manager that is capable of outsmarting the competition in terms of tactics, motivational aspects, squad planning, and man-management, etc. Some of Madrid's managers since then, like Zidane and Ancelotti, are in a different league to anything we got in the last 10 years.
Post Messi, we'll need to do everything to secure a top-class manager that can compete with the best, or else we'll drop off considerably. That's the only way we can come back imo, as I don't like our chances of building up a super team made of Haalands and Mbappes that can win despite being led by a decent to good manager.
For example, Guardiola had everything figured out except failing to deal with some quality big egos and being uninspired with transfers (especially on defensive positions). Everything else was spot on, tactics, true to Barca's style, player rotations, big-game performances, young players being promoted and developed properly, winning mentality, you name it.
