That was a walk. But 15 years have passed. Today's football has almost nothing to do with that. Barça won with displays led by a beardless Leo Messi, accompanied by Xavi and Iniesta or Puyol, among others, all of proven quality. There were no five changes, nor did the footballers have the physique, the preparation and the technique that they have at the moment. There will always be an impressive win in a League, but no one who understands football can deny that the game has evened out. And a lot.
Messi came to mark in his prime more than 70 goals in a season. The Blaugrana theory of essences was based on the fact that it was better to lose 6-5 than 1-0. Guardiola had a system of possession that only left the door of chances open for the rival if they made a quick transition to the counterattack. The team defended with the ball. Today, the current manager of City has gone to the semifinals of the Champions League, being surpassed in possession by Bayern Munich in both games of the tie.
Here is a battery of spectacular data about this Barça: it is the best in the history of the seven major leagues to concede less than ten goals in the first 30 games. He has 23 clean sheets in 30 games, only nine goals conceded and is the one with the best point average also in the major European championships: 2.53 to 2.51 for Napoli.
Barça must be very satisfied with the transition they have made (they are 11 points behind Madrid in the League) after Messi could not continue at FC Barcelona. The Blaugrana club has learned to defend, not in the terrible and fast transitions of the rivals, but in longer periods of time. They create chances for him, yes, but he has strengthened a wall in which there are two great protagonists: Araújo, who looks more and more like Puyol, and Ter Stegen, who has boosted his effectiveness since Neto left. The complement of Koundé and Christensen has been fundamental, and the team has solved the problem of the left side, where Alba, Balde and Marcos Alonso cover it perfectly, alternating in different demarcations and helping to improve.
The problem with the essences is that they are never happy and they lock Barça in a time tunnel from which it is impossible to get out because nothing returns as before. Everything is changing. Soccer today cannot be compared to that of the best times, and you cannot be living on the memory. We must remember the mythical phrase: "The past is history, the future is a mystery, but nevertheless, today is a gift and that is why it is called the present."
