For this question, we will be joined by Ade C. of Barcelona Offside (@BarcaTheOffside) and Sarah B. from @RealMadridPlace, as well as our own Matteo Gallinaro (@RMadridDecima)
Matteo Gallinaro (RMadridDecima)
This will be uncustomary, as I am not a fan of making predictions of this sort, but today I shall make a bold statement nonetheless: Real Madrid have ended the Barcelona cycle at the Camp Nou when they won 2-1. Barcelona was dismantled physically and mentally by Real Madrid by the end of the year, as they did not have the athleticism to compete with the stronger, hungrier, more physical and deeper bench of Real Madrid.
The psychological cycle was broken in the Copa del Rey match at the Camp Nou that ended 2-2. Once Benzema scored the equalizer around the 70’, the Camp Nou for the first time had trembled in a long while against Real Madrid and seemed vulnerable for once. Barcelona will be highly competitive, but if Real can repeat a similar year in la Liga, Tito’s current Barcelona will stand no chance.
Final Verdict: Yes. The potent Barcelona that we have witnessed for the past 3 years has lost its edge.
Sarah C (RealMadridPlace)
I would go with a firm no. Nonetheless, Real Madrid enjoyed a superb season and most people would agree that Madrid have had the upper hand over rivals, Barcelona. Head to head competition between Real Madrid and Barcelona have been very heated and unpredictable this past season. People may think that Barcelona's cycle has ended with Pep leaving, but I for one think that Pep's philosophy is staying for a long time.
The reason I answered with a no is because most Madridistas already thought that we ended Barcelona's cycle when the score ended 1-1 in the Bernabeu in April 2011 and a few days later we won at Mestalla the Copa del Rey final against them. We felt great and that we ended their cycle, but may I remind you what happened a few days after that in the Champions League? Barcelona qualified to the final while we didn't. It's hard to say whether we broke their cycle, we'll just have to wait and see how the upcoming Super Cup unfolds.
Final verdict: A firm no.
Ade C. (BarcaTheOffside)
We've been hearing about the 'end of the cycle' of Pep's Barça since... um, the first time they lost a match after winning the 'Triplete', and then after the Six Cups, and when they failed to reach the CL final due to Mourinho's Inter, and after the first time they failed to score more than a handful of goals against Real Madrid. Every minor setback has been interpreted as the end of the era and the return of the losing ways that every true Barça fan, in their heart of hearts, is convinced are always just around the corner. But I mantain that Barça's football doesn't evolve in such a pedestrian way as a 'cycle', but rather in a straight(ish) line, with its up and downs, but also a clear direction: from the beginnings of La Masía, through Cryuff and Guardiola and barrelling towards the future, Barça keeps building and improving on what has come before and will continue to do so, even without Pep.
But even if we admit the existence of this mythical 'cycle' and interpret it as Pep Guardiola's era and the obscene amount of trophies earned during, can we point the finger at Real Madrid for bringing it to an end? No. Real Madrid had an impeccable season, broke a boatload of Liga records and were worthy Liga winners, but the problems that plagued Barça didn't come from there. A combination of exhaustion (these players have been playing all available competitions with both club and country for four years, without a break), unbelievable bad luck with injuries and illness (the absences of Eric Abidal and David Villa, to mention but two cases, cannot be ignored) and the inability to get a win in some crucial matches in spite of almost total domination (hello, Chelsea!) doomed Barça to the terrible fate of only winning four trophies this season. Alas, would that all cycles ended like this!
Its not stoppin barca's circle but startin yours and that is currently impossible....barca had a good run and can still do it again
ReplyDeleteAccording to La Gazzetta (Italian News Source) Barcelona is interested in either one of Klose & Diego Milito. Think they've realized they need an aerial threat up front for moments when teams close themselves in 11 (like Chelsea, etc)
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, exhaustion and injury took a lot from Barca.. Madrid did fantastic last season. They are very consistent and rarely lose points in league matches. Due to injuries, Pep had limited choices of players while Madrid had more players on the bench. Like it or not Mourinho is a superb coach, and he managed to take advantage from this situation. It's not impossible for Barca to be dominant again and next season will be interesting since Barca's player will be hungry again and Madrid will try to extend their championship reign
ReplyDeleteAs Mourinho said a couple of months ago in an interview to ABC, "A cycle is hard to define as it is inconsistent." Mourinho is the first coach to stay for 2 consecutive season since Del Bosque (1999-2003). Stability is something Madrid have missed badly for over almost a decade. With Mourinho staying for a third season, things are bound to be better, but as I said time will only tell.
ReplyDeletei dont know if there is a cycle! but i know that i want the decima and the super cup and why not another la liga!i dont care about barcas cycle and everything..i care about real winning many titles!!
ReplyDeleteI don't fully get it, If R.Madrid win Super Cup and La Liga has Barca's cycle come to an end? what I think is; if Messi leaves Barca that is all. And Sarah mentioned 'Pep's philosophy' what is that exactly?
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