Yes. The model we had in the past was always built on buying the biggest superstars.
Well competing for the Europe's top titles has always been the main driver.
We can write off a bad season but Barca have had far too many bad seasons in recent years.
Safely assuming that the club wont win the CL this season, then by next season it will be at 10 years since Barca last won the CL. In this time Liverpool and Bayern have surpassed Barca in CL titles. And how much longer can Barca afford to not compete for the CL? Who's to say that a juggernaut club like City can't win another 4-5 CL in the next decade and surpass Barca too.
But regardless of CL eliminations, Barca was able to mask this over recent decades because they have domestically dominated La Liga.
Now that is is clearly slipping out of reach too.
Barca can't relax mate. The club actually can't afford (figuratively and literally) to fall anymore behind.