Xavi Hernández

[Messigician]

Ramos was okay too. Now Barca: Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Villa, Pedro, Alba, Puyol, Pique, Fabregas. Not even contest.

Alba wasn't even in the bench for the world cup

Yawn

Barca core was key yes

But it was a team effort end of the day

 

[Barcilliant]

Xavi Hern?ndez , Bar?a coach , was asked at the press conference prior to the duel against Betis about Real Madrid 's spectacular comeback against Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals and the player from Egar is clear that this type of feat would be more complicated in the azulgrana club for the style of play.


"It would cost us more, because we have a different style. At Anoeta it was difficult for us and we got the game, at Villarreal the feeling was of a draw and they won. Madrid has that thing that when you forgive it they go back. that positive dynamic. It's their DNA. Football has these things, the one who deserves it doesn't always win", said Xavi , who wanted to give value to Bar?a's model since they have also won important titles.


"It would take us years to win otherwise. What I am clear about is that playing with this game model, five Champions have been achieved, many League titles and world recognition. They remember the Bar?a of Guardiola and Messi. They remember how played. For me it's crucial. I have no doubts. This is the way. At Bar?a there is no other. We still take longer than normal and we have to be patient. History tells us. We have to compete there and the fans cul? feels more proud", assured Xavi .

The Bar?a coach also recognized that it is logical that the Bar?a fans are going through a complicated season due to the possibility of a white double and the lack of titles for the Catalans this season.

"Surely it affects many cul?s. We are antagonists and it is a reality. In November they told me that the main objective was to enter the Champions League. We are in these circumstances. I came with the illusion of winning titles and it has not been possible. Doing a overall assessment, the team has improved a lot but we haven't been able to compete for titles. Bar?a has to fight for titles", said Xavi , who wants to win against Betis to seal qualification for the Champions League.

Yeah, we have a different style that is so predictable. Either we spam crosses or we have meaningless possession. Next season will be a waste too.

 

[Gnidrologist]

So what. No Barca core, no world domination. Del Bosque basically let Pep coach his NT.

 

[Messigician]

So what. No Barca core, no world domination. Del Bosque basically let Pep coach his NT.

Pep would have bottled it

 

[Richard.H]

This forum has become a cesspool of trolls. Sure people can have preferences and the last 4-5 years of the club have been bad on the European stage, but we literally have the best collection of CL + League trophies in the last 30 years

Some posters/trolls here make it sound like this is Everton. Cherry on top is that Liverpool bozo lecturing others and liking every anti Barca post like Liverpool weren't the definition of big club mediocrity for 2+ decades only recently

Mate everyone knows Barca is no Everton, but we haven't been a proactive club since 14/15. It's 7 years since that season. That's a long time. RM has won 3 CL's in a row. Hate to say it, but that makes even the Barca success under Pep look not as great as it once was. 3 or 4 more years of no success, and you can put Barca as a "has been" club like Arsenal and Ajax. We as a fanbase need to be proactive and let the board and players know we won't tolerate this.

We should've won more with Messi, we should've won more with Xaviesta, and we should've won more with Neysuarez. We have underachieved compared to RM, who you can argue have overachieved.

 

[serghei]

�� this is what cracks me up!!

You do know that Real Madrid have played some great football in their CL and league wins, right??
People act like Madrid play shit, boring football everytime they play. This season they have been more functional but in seasons gone they knew how to crank it up too. Even with Mourinho they played some great football.
What they have is the ability to win when they don't play great. We really lack that element. And guess what? I would gladly trade some style for some substance. Life is about the grind...sometimes you have to win ugly. You can't be spectacular all the time. Even in a regular job somedays you're just off and need to get through the day. Hogball is not the only way to play. We lack balance in our football. Too much attention paid to technical skill and possession but not enough to winning mentality and physicality. If the governing bodies decide to reduce match time from 90 minutes to 60 minutes,we will be in big trouble. You will see bigger, stronger athletes playing the game at a higher intensity. We will be smashed. Time to evolve or die.

What is it that you're really arguing here? Are they playing crap? No. Are they good? Yes. Where they getting dominated by all sorts of teams and narrowly got past them because of moments of genius mostly by Benzema? Yes.

What you need to understand is that you don't get the best of both worlds. The reason why Barca built the 2011 side is precisely because they are obsessive about playing a certain way. A team of that level doesn't get built by adapting to the opponent, but by stubbornly chasing an ideal and seeing it come to life.

There can only be one question here. Would you trade a truly special team appearing once every 15-20 years for winning more, while not being as special? If yes, then you unluckily got attached to the wrong team.

What Xavi is saying is that they have their own model, and we have ours. We both demonstrated we can build great teams. They do it more often and win more often, we do it more rarely but create historically greater teams.

 

[KingLeo10]

Mate everyone knows Barca is no Everton, but we haven't been a proactive club since 14/15. It's 7 years since that season. That's a long time. RM has won 3 CL's in a row. Hate to say it, but that makes even the Barca success under Pep look not as great as it once was.

We should've won more with Messi, we should've won more with Xaviesta, and we should've won more with Neysuarez. We have underachieved compared to RM, who you can argue have overachieved.

I'm referring to Messigician. And the Liverpool fan, not you and other sane posters who rightfully argue we could have won more. No problems there. Just don't like the interpretation that the success of RM invalidates the Pep era, Lucho era or R10 era.

From 2006 to 2015, we won 4 CL in 4 CL finals.

RM from 2013 to 2022 have won 4 CL in 4 CL finals, with the possibility of 5. We had a bunch of all time greats, and they've had a bunch of all time greats.

Bayern have 2 CLs in this period, Pool have 2 (maybe 3).

We just need to stop losing badly in CL like last 5 years (which will automatically fix itself once the oldies are all gone), but in terms of trophy count, we've been doing pretty well in the modern era (CL format, not European cup).

 

[serghei]

I'm referring to Messigician. And the Liverpool fan, not you and other sane posters who rightfully argue we could have won more. No problems there. Just don't like the interpretation that the success of RM invalidates the Pep era, Lucho era or R10 era.

From 2006 to 2015, we won 4 CL in 4 CL finals.

RM from 2013 to 2022 have won 4 CL in 4 CL finals, with the possibility of 5. We had a bunch of all time greats, and they've had a bunch of all time greats.

Bayern have 2 CLs in this period, Pool have 2 (maybe 3).

We just need to stop losing badly in CL like last 5 years (which will automatically fix itself once the oldies are all gone), but in terms of trophy count, we've been doing pretty well in the modern era (CL format, not European cup).

True. We're basically where Madrid were post 2002 until 2011 or so. About 8-9 years by getting beat by the likes of Roma and Lyon. because squad is rotten by complacency and veteranship infesting ever level of the sporting structure.

While Madrid probably are at the tail end of their best generation ever, in the modern era at least.

 

[Barcaman]

For someone who watched Barca from Cruyff's last season, Ronaldo under Robson, Van Gaal building back total football, dissolving and again resurrecting under Rijkaard ushering Messi, Pep, Lucho.. We were always about greatest football and I wouldn't change all those years of enjoying watching Barca play for checking out Wikipedia for trophy count.

For most part, it was Barca who played best football in the world for last 30 years. So many great matches and memories

 

[serghei]

What the current Madrid is proving is how badly Rosell and Bartomeu fucked up. That 2011 generation with better management and a better board surely has to do better than just 1 CL in the next 7-8 years.

 

[serghei]

Can't you guy see how painfully cyclic football is?

A decade ago Barca and United were playing the 2nd CL final in 3 years against each other. Madrid and Liverpool were a mess. Madrid had their first real notable CL appearance in ages. Now a decade later almost, Barca and United are basically reversed with Liverpool and Madrid. It's Madrid and Liverpool who are playing their 2nd CL final in the last 4 years.

Basically 1 and 2 in each of Spain and England switching places in the time span of one decade. Two at the table eating a fine dinner, the rivals looking in the window. You just know that sometime in the not too distant future, the places will be switched again. It's innevitable.

We're talking about the biggest clubs in the world here. Barca and United aren't some C level clubs that will accept this situation. Back in the offices, they are teething in frustration seeing their rivals on top and are working to overturn the balance. It will take more or less time depending on the circumstances but they will 100% get it done.

 

[KingLeo10]

Can't you guy see how painfully cyclic football is?

A decade ago Barca and United were playing the 2nd CL final in 3 years against each other. Madrid and Liverpool were a mess. Madrid had their first real notable CL appearance in ages. Now a decade later almost, Barca and United are basically reversed with Liverpool and Madrid. it's Madrid and Liverpool who are playing their 2nd CL final in the last 4 years. Basically 1 and 2 in each of Spain and England switching places in the time span of one decade.

The only big problem that Barca has is retaining washed up players far too long (and this to be fair, is a post 2015 issue and maybe a byproduct of the sheer amount of success that Busquets Pique etc achieved).

Everything else about this club is mostly great.

 

[serghei]

The only big problem that Barca has is retaining washed up players far too long (and this to be fair, is a post 2015 issue and maybe a byproduct of the sheer amount of success that Busquets Pique etc achieved).

Everything else about this club is mostly great.

That happens with all clubs. It's basically no1 reason why football is cyclic.

You win, create legends, legends decline, you take time to rebuild. Rinse, repeat. What Madrid has on top of other clubs is the ability to pick up CLs while being basically nothing special. Every other club rarely wins in these circumstances. Madrid do it annoyingly often.

You just know that if Gavi and Pedri reach big big heights, we'll be (hopefully) talking in 2034 about how overpaid and lazy they are.

 

[serghei]

Actually, there is a caveat here. If the club is having a good management and leadership, like Madrid under Florentino is getting, we'll be seeing fewer overpaid and lazy veterans and more veterans like Madrid has currently.

This collection of veterans is among the softest we've had.

I remember Sylvinho playing a CL final at 35 and bossing it. That guy was tough-minded. I remember Marquez at 34-35 being still great. The guy was Mexico's captain and a boss in mentality. Mascherano the same, pretty sure he was Argentina's captain as well. And others.

This collection of veterans is uniquely soft. Unlikely past veterans that we had and that were closer to these Madrid players in tenacity and manhood basically. Having balls and not letting some Roma players who most won shit all in their careers bully you around.

 

[serghei]

For us to be back fast it would take something impossible. Which is something like the summers of 2009 and 2010 for Madrid.

Let's remember what it was back then. We were rocking, Madrid were desperate after years and years of being a footnote in Europe. Barca won a sextuple in 2009, after scoring 6 on Bernabeu no less.

What did Madrid do? Bough Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka. Ballon d'Or in 2007, and Ballon d'Or in 2008. A year later they bought the 2nd best manager in the world and treble winner Mourinho.

We need that kind of forceful response on the market, but we just can't do it. Because fuckface Bartomeu and his crooks ruined the club for a good 3-4 years. All we can do is try to develop the potential stars we have and hope Xavi will come good.