I can’t recall a Barca victory having such a bitter-sweet taste about it as last night’s crushing defeat of Rayo Vallecano.
It was good to see Barca scoring goals, with Messi breaking his own drought, as well as watching substitute goalkeeper Pinto make some dramatic saves-but Pujol showed himself a true captain when he urged Alves and Thiago Alcantara to desist in their celebratory Brazilian dance .
Sure this was a match that Barca needed to win if only to lift some of its shattered morale after losing the La Liga title to Real Madrid and failing to reach the final of the Champions League. But this was a victory over a weak team, which served to remind one just how easy FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have had it for much of the domestic season. The sheer volume of goals moreover was evidently days too late to translate into anything more meaningful.
Only the site of Tito Vilanova and Pep Guardiola sitting for most of the match discreetly in the dug out gave mixed messages about the future. Vilanova looked pale and tired compared to Guardiola, a reminder that the man appointed as the new manager of FC Barcelona is still recovering from a major operation, and that there is no scientific certainty about his longer-term future.
There is no doubting the strong bond that has existed for years between Vilanova and Guardiola. Both came from similar poor backgrounds with their Catalan identity and love for the kind of beautiful game Cruyff brought with him ingrained from an early age.They shared a bunk room in La Masia. Vilanova was two years older than Guardiola, and became a kind of mentor.
Vilanova never really made it as player, however. He stayed in the lower divisions while Guardiola was promoted by Cruyff to the ‘Dream team’, and also played for Spain. Nevertheless Guardiola never turned his back on his old friend. When it came to managing the first team Pep called on Tito to be his assistant and has remained one of his most trusted friends ever since. But a dressing room of an ambitious team like Barca can not be built simply on personal loyalty and sentiment. Cruyff and Guardiola always were characterised by strong personalities and the respect earned through their playing years.
Much has been said of how Vilanova’s appointment will ensure continuity at Barca for he shares Guardiola’s faith in a football of style and grace. But I have my doubts whether Vilavonova has it in him to be his own man, and to be more than just a holding operation as Barca struggles to hold together amid the changes to the team that will by necessity have to be made in the coming months, while Mourinho consolidates his power base at Real Madrid.
A new generation of Barca fans have got used to winning under Guardiola, losing the inferiority complex their fathers grandfathers suffered for so many years. But after last week’s debacle, the club need a no less strong personality to ensure that the legacy is not squandered. I wish Vilanova the best of luck. But something tells me Barca’s long term future may involve Guardiola’s return whether in person or in the reflected football philosophy and personality of a foreigner like Marcelo Bielsa. Barca will need more than just politics and friendships to resist Real Madrid’s return to dominance under the ruthless Mourinho.
Jimmy, I agree. If Pep was unable to take the pressure, then someone who only last November underwent a major cancer operation and, as you say, looks unwell, is unlikely to survive the course. How will he take up the daunting prospect of facing Mourinho, the rival who almost took his eye out in that infamous scrap?! Time will tell……..
I think it very difficult to say how long Tito will last – a lot will depend on the results up until Christmas. The important thing, though, is that as far as the culé masses are concerned we appear to have a project. Actually, I imagine this turning into some kind of soap opera with Guardiola coming back ‘rested’ around October.