With twenty-two trophies in the cabinet since 2006, including four Champions League titles and numerous others according to The Daily Mail, FC Barcelona is a team that is used to winning. Under Rijkaard and Guardiola, with Messi, Iniesta and Xavi pulling strings, they rightly were viewed as the most destructive side in the world.
Fast-forward to 2020, and Barca appear to be coming apart at the seams. Aside from missing out on European silverware, famously losing 4-3 to Liverpool in 2019, they threw the La Liga title away to bitter rivals Real Madrid and almost forced Lionel Messi out of the door.
There’s no doubt they’re in a transitional phase, but is Koeman the right man in the correct position at the ideal time?
The bookmakers’ effect
The bookies don’t win football matches, the players do. However, they are experts in highlighting which teams have the best opportunities for silverware, and FC Barcelona is low on the list. Sports Betting Markets constantly reviews and assesses the biggest sportsbooks, and none of them believe Barcelona are favourites to win La Liga or the Champions League this season. They are as long as 14/1 with some companies for the latter, making them sixth favourites.
Bringing through the youth
Of course, the odds only concentrate on single seasons, and Koeman’s job is a long-term one. If Barcelona fans look to the future, it is a lot brighter than last month when their captain and the world’s best player asked to leave. Yes, Suarez and Arthur are gone, yet this has made room for new blood. Ansu Fati is by far the brightest star in the Catalonian side’s squad, scoring three goals in as many games this season. Fati isn’t the only wonderkid to get excited about if you’re a Barca follower as Trincao, Puig, and Pedri are all spoken highly of, while de Jong and Dembele are world-class if the manager can facilitate their talents
A poor transfer window
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a competitive window for Barcelona FC. Suarez left, which is a big blow even though his transfer was inevitable, and Sergino Dest came in at full-back. Pjanic was recruited in the summer and should add weight to an otherwise light midfield, but there’s no doubt that the gaping holes are still exploitable, and the fact they missed out on Georginio Wijnaldum will sting. Considering the club needs central defenders too, the lack of activity could leave them weak, and it’s an area Koeman will have to strengthen if he wants to challenge for major honours any time soon.
Bright spark?
There’s certainly room for improvement, on the pitch and in the transfer window. Still, the Barcelona faithful will be buoyed by the fact that they have had a strong and exciting return to action. The side has already scored eight goals in three matches and only conceded one. They’ve won two games convincingly and played well when drawing with Sevilla, the country’s in-form side.
Admirers of the philosophy also point to the passing and possession stats under Koeman. While they aren’t Guardiola-esque, Barca passed the ball one-hundred more times than Sevilla, one-hundred-and-thirty times more than Celta Vigo, and one-hundred-and-fifty times more than Villarreal. Another healthy sign that Koeman will bring back the Barca way is the fact that they dominated possession in all three matches.
Greater tests are to come, namely Real Madrid and the top European teams, but it seems as if Koeman is taking baby steps to exorcise the demons of their 8-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.
