Like every year since 2015, the last Champions League, FC Barcelona poses a moral question at this point in the season: do they respect us in Europe? Much, little, nothing? When does respect disappear? Naturally, FC Barcelona is respected, although that has not deprived it of the most humiliating defeats in Europe...
FC Barcelona has years of credibility and respect ahead in Europe, with the threat of the Negreira case temporarily removed (in the judicial phase, predictably slow). His four Champions Leagues, between 2006 and 2015, the Messi era, caused admiration and respect, as deep as it was vast. Traveling the world with the seal of Barcelona gave a prestige and a good reception that we Catalans have rarely had before or since. The memory of great teams is never erased for those who enjoyed them and is now part of a pantheon from which no one can unearth you.
The problem for FC Barcelona in Europe is that the victories and failures, so adverse to prestige, have come in large games and stadiums. A bad night on mediocre fields hurts less than in the coliseums, where Barça has suffered affronts.
Today's match at the Do Dragão stadium falls into that category of duels where European respect is won or lost and aspirations are measured. The gradual departure of the veterans who won the titles and then suffered defeats in Liverpool, Paris or Turin transfers the need to maintain respect to a different generation of footballers.
Gavi, pearl of La Masia, is called to be a long-term footballer and with all the guarantees to understand that respect in Europe matters in this club. They are not required to win the Champions League, just that no defeat hurts the eyes. He embodies the generational change and the maintenance of European prestige (and he has a few extra cards due to confusion).
The hardships, Xavi's trust in those at home and Barcelona's psychology in low times – the kids from La Masía! – have led to the arrival of youth players, a notable generation with a future. The most successful is Gavi, whose passion for playing football and for Barça is almost as pronounced as that shown by Carles Puyol. Every generation of La Masia has needed a de facto leader, an honorary position reached through maturity on the field, an aspect in which Gavi is making progress. Of course, when a veteran like Nacho loses his temper like that, maturing is not irreversible.
