When colonial empires crumble and possessions vanish, the metropolis is forever left with the consolation of memory, the raw material of nostalgia. Johan Cruyff landed in Barcelona 50 years ago without being aware of the magnitude of his work. In other, more optimistic times, the anniversary had passed with some discretion, given the bustle and illusions of every start to the season. I am not the only one among my friends who, in order not to get depressed, devours the reports on those 50 years since the arrival of Skinny. Nor would I rule out the success of a broadcast every weekend of the corresponding Barça match in the 73-74 season...
Fifty years later, the panorama of FC Barcelona demands just the opposite of what the Dutchman's philosophy meant: win whatever. Swelling to victories by 0-1 away from home, clinching the three points, asking for the time at Montjuïc, scoring all the goals from set pieces...
The ugliness that comes from the management of the entity, sitting with tweezers every Sunday in front of the television and the terrible financial prospects demand that the team win matches. Either pedal or fall. It is not a "historical emergency", but rather a survival exercise so as not to abandon, at this point!, the club to its fate.
FC Barcelona is not in a position to resist a bad run from the first team. Consequently, he can no longer afford the luxury of discussing the style, the academy or the alternatives to the president (unfortunately, there is no one interested in Catalonia in presiding over the non-profit FC Barcelona, apart from Victor Font).
The disappointment is such that only the usual remains (let the ball enter). The umbilical cord is very thin because we are facing a strange squad and a very serious disorientation: everyone seems to suspect that the signings and transfers do not obey the wishes of the coach or a sensible economic management but rather the economic interests of one or two intermediaries, whose relationship with the directive invites suspicion.
Xavi Hernández has an advantage this season: nobody is going to demand anything of him –veterans or novices, attacking or coaching, Tirians or Trojans–, unless the team wins the League matches and does not fall in Europe giving the impression that it is a finished club. It is enough to win the League or not even that: it would be enough to reach the final stage with options to win the title. Certainly not what Johan Cruyff liked. Not even Barcelona. The other is the abyss.
