author: Amy Lawrence
source: The Guardian
date: 9 April 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com
After Barcelona's destruction of Bayern Munich it is legitimate to ask if this is the most attractive side of the modern age.
Uli Hoeness, sat in the away dugout next to Jurgen Klinsmann with an expression that summed up his team's ritual humiliation pretty well. His red face somehow managed to be both round and very, very long all at the same time. "We were rabbits caught in front of a snake," he lamented. Hoeness, like everybody else in Camp Nou, knew that the rabbits only lost 4-0 because the snake decided it may as well save some venom for its next victim.
It is not unreasonable to suggest this Barcelona team is extraordinary enough to make grown men cry for joy. The emotions sweeping the vast majority of observers were all about elation, over-excitement and possibility. In the morning's papers, El Mundo Deportivo captured the mood by stating that football "owes" Barça its third European title.
It is hard to make a case for a more deserving winner of this Champions League edition. In terms of attacking spirit, they wipe the floor with everyone else. Barcelona's 85 La Liga goals looks even more astonishing with a little perspective.
Consider the ratios elsewhere:
Barcelona: 85 goals from 29 games (2.93)
Internazionale: 55 goals from 30 games (1.83)
Man United: 52 goals from 30 games (1.73)
Lyon: 41 goals from 30 games (1.37)
Wolfsburg: 58 goals from 26 games (2.23)
Porto: 44 goals from 23 games (1.91)
To appreciate Barcelona in terms of statistics is to miss the point. Better stop counting, sit back and feast your eyes. They play so beautifully, the Camp Nou socios are beginning to debate whether this is the most attractive side of the modern age.
Barcelona have evolved from the 2006 Champions League vintage, most visibly in midfield, where the line-up of Deco, Edmilson and the crunching aberration that was Mark van Bommel could not weave the kind of passing patterns created by Xavi and Andres Iniesta, with Yaya Toure in control just behind.
Further forward, Ronaldinho at his pomp arguably gave Barça more fantasy, and a greater sense of the spectacular and unexpected, and the intelligence of Henrik Larsson was a pleasure to watch. But there is more cut and thrust about today's front three, whose collective speed of thought and movement compliment each other brilliantly and to devastating effect. Samuel Eto'o must certainly feel immense relief he did not follow Ronaldinho and Deco out the door last summer, as was on the cards.
It is worth pointing out that Pep Guardiola's goal addicts have a vastly superior Champions League record to the class of 2006. Frank Rijkaard's team had notched up 19 by this stage, halfway through the quarter-finals. Messi and company are already on 28.
The little Argentinian spoke for all of them when he tried to play down the plaudits until there are medals to back them up. "I think from one to 11, each of our players put in an excellent performance against Bayern. But to be considered the best team in Europe, is about winning the Champions League and regaining the Spanish title."
The only nag for Barcelona is the fact they might feel they are in the 'wrong' side of the draw. They would obviously feel confident in a pure footballing contest, as they would expect from a semi-final against any of the contestants from the other branch to the final - Manchester United, Porto, Villarreal or Arsenal - but the power play of Chelsea, or Liverpool if they were to achieve a miraculous turnaround, is not their favourite flavour of ice cream.
Chelsea, incidentally, might think they have done the hard part with that thrilling win at Anfield but they ain't seen nothing yet. The prettiest snake on earth, with razor sharp fangs, lies in wait.
read the full and original article here
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