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 contrasting quality. There were no five changes, nor did the footballers have the physicality, preparation and technique they have at the moment. There will always be an impressive thrashing in some League, but no one who understands football can deny that the game has been even. And a lot
In his prime, Messi scored more than 70 goals in one season. The Blaugrana theory of essences was based on the fact that it was better to lose by 6-5 than by 1-0. Guardiola had a possession system that only left the door open to the opponent if they made a quick transition to the counterattack. The team defended with the ball. Today, City's current coach has progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League, having been beaten in possession by Bayern Munich, in both games of the tie.
Here comes 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 he has the best points average in the major European championships as well: 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 rapid 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 is increasingly resembling Puyol, and Ter Stegen, who has shot up his effectiveness since Neto left. The complement of Koundé and Christensen has been fundamental and the team has solved the issue of the left back, in which Alba, Balde and Marcos Alonso cover it perfectly, alternating in various areas and helping to improve.
The problem with the essences is that they are never happy and lock Barça in a time tunnel from which it is impossible to get out because nothing returns to the way it was before. Everything is changing. Football today can't be compared to the best times and you can't be living on the memory. We must remember the legendary phrase: "The past is history, the future is a mystery, but even so, today is a gift and that is why it is called the present".
