The way forward for Barca?

FC Barcelona has had 4 magical years under Pep Guardiola. They have won absolutely everything there was in sight and played some sublime football, keeping the world mesmerized and impressing everyone at one point or another, except perhaps Jose Mourinho and the Real Madrid faithful.

Adios Pep!

The Spanish coach who has been hailed as the greatest manager in Barcelona history by the club’s president recently announced that he would be vacating his position for various reasons amongst which he had nothing else to offer the club and that he was drained. His resignation came a few days after Barca was knocked out the Champions League semi-finals by a Chelsea team that was labeled as boring and negative and there were rumblings in several corners that Guardiola’s resignation was a reaction to that loss, but I for one do not think so. In the aftermath of that game, one thing I did feel that the reign of Barcelona’s golden generation over European football had come to an end and Guardiola’s resignation was the second sign, the first being a blunt Barca performance at the Nou Camp where they couldn’t come up with new ideas after their game plan was stunted.

But then again, it is very easy to talk about things in hindsight because you have all the facts and evidence to back you. But going forward it will be very interesting to see how Barca proceeds. Remember that prior to when Guardiola was appointed; Barca experienced a period of relative success under Frank Rijkaard winning the Champions League and consecutive La Liga titles. Guardiola came  in made some sweeping changes, shipping out a superstar like Ronaldinho in his prime, phasing out other stars such as Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and Yaya Toure as well as introducing brand new talents such as Pedro, Thiago, Sergio Busquets and Isaac Cuenca.

The future of FC Barcelona

Perhaps it might be time for titans of this current generation such as Carles Puyol, Xavi and one or two others to make way for a new Barca team centered on Leo Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique as the team’s spine. It probably sounds like I’m being drastic and throwing out the baby with the bath water over here, but I know no changes will be made immediately, but I do feel that sweeping changes will be made at some point or another and emotions will have to be put to one side when the men who are considered to be the backbone of the club will be forced to ride their horses into the sunset.