Barcelona masters of European football and playing the most attractive style on the continent in recent years, are in the Champions League final once again after beating German super club Bayern Munich over two legs 5-3 on aggregate.
Bayern had an uphill battle after losing the first leg 3-0 in Camp Nou thanks to Messi’s late brace and Neymar’s injury time goal. Despite Bayern scoring early on in Munich, Neymar’s two first half goals on the night proved too much for even them to turn around.
However, the seeds were sown way back in the nineties. Cryuff took the Ajax total football formula and modernised it, winning the clubs first European crown in 1991 at Wembley.
Sergi Barjuan was a member of the European Cup winners Cup triumphant side, beating PSG 1-0 in Rotterdam, which also contained Barca and Bayern’s coaches. Barjuan talked of Barcelonismo, the clubs philosophy, in a recent TV interview.
The philosophy is based on respect and the political and cultural aspects regarding the Catalan identity. “When a player arrives at La Masia he is taught the values of respecting human beings, opponents, the referee and the coach” This is what sets Barca apart from other big clubs.
Both Guardiola and Luis Enrique developed great tactical awareness under Englishman Bobby Robson, and so did the rest of the team. So much so that there were four players from the 1997 winning team coaching teams in the Champions League quarter finals.
Barjuan also talked of the progress of Barca “the team won so many trophies playing beautiful football under Pep but Enrique has generated more fluidity of play” which, if he is correct makes the Catalan giants even more of a force to be reckoned with. Not good news for the fans of English clubs, but great to watch for the neutrals.
Barca have another great opportunity to add to their four Champions League titles. They have won it three times in the last 10 years, beating English opposition each time, and must be anyone’s favorites to that tally, especially with the strike force of Messi, Neymar and Suarez on fire and scoring for fun.
Source: DSG
