Mes Que Un Club

Now, in one of Barcelona’s most difficult seasons, their famous motto must hold truer than ever.

Many different angles and many different perspectives will be given regarding on Barcelona’s 2013/2014 season. Some will say that the players were too poor. Others will says Martino was too incompetent. Some will blame the board, others will blame their stagnant footballing philosophy.

Whatever is said will be up to independent observers. To Barcelona and Barcelona fans, this season must be viewed as one of unfortunate tragedy and as a good time to reflect upon the culture of the club. For surely, this is one of the darkest years of its 114-year history.

Their late manager – Tito Vilanova – was forced to quit the club in order to continue treatment for the cancer that would tragically and untimely take his life in 2014.
Their star player – and the world’s finest – Lionel Messi, continued to suffer from injuries and has seen a real decline in his performances.

Victor Valdes finished a brilliant swansong at the club with an awful injury.

Carles Puyol, one of Europe’s last great defenders, has decided to retire as well at the end of the season.

They received a transfer ban from FIFA for illegal transfers regarding minors and an investigation into their dealings over the transfer of Neymar – their star signing, who has failed to live up to expectations – led to the resignation of Sandro Rosell, the club president, and they were made to pay £11.1million in owed taxes.

Clearly, this season has been harsh on them. Coupled with their failure to pick up anything other than the Supercopa De Espana (on away goals) and it is understandable that the post-mortem will be harsh.

But one needs not read too much into this season. It was painful and difficult, but with the transfer ban suspended – for now – very few of these ills will befall them ever again. The overhaul of Guardiola’s style has already begun, and despite all the criticisms being levelled at Tata Martino, his is a much more vertical approach to football. Their were always bound to be some difficult days in what was always destined to be a transition season, such as the last-minute equaliser recently surrendered to Getafe, but his tenure has not been as terrible as one might think.

Alexis Sanchez, for one, has used his devastating speed and finishing to step up to the plate in games where Messi has been shut down. A brilliant chipped winner in the first El Clasico of the season was just one of 20 goals this season – he’s thrived under Martino at times. Their forward and long passes have yielded 147 goals this season, and might’ve led a title charge if not for their leaky defence, which shipped 47. Pique is looking rusty and will need to be replaced sooner than previously imagined.

All in all, if Barcelona are to escape this disappointing end to their dominion of European football, the fans, players and staff will have to unite as more than a club.

They’ll need to be a family.