author: Rob Shepherdsource: News of the World
date: 11 April 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com
FC Barcelona is the focal point of Catalonia, the proud province which sees itself as a country within a country. It is a club owned by its constituent member fans, not bankers. No oligarchs from Russia, American gold diggers or wealthy Arabs will ever have enough money to bribe the people of Barcelona to allow the family silver be sold in the way it has at Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and, possibly, Arsenal.
The Nou Camp fans elect a president and expect him to deliver not just a winning team but one which does so in exotic style. So heads will roll if trophies are not lifted with panache.
The night before Terry Venables was axed by the club, the wine flowed in a celebration of a reign that had seen him bring back La Liga for the first time in 11 years. But a penalty shoot-out failure in the European Cup final against Steaua Bucharest after a grim goalless draw was too much to suffer and El Tel was soon history. Barca eventually landed the big one in 1992 under the guidance of Johan Cruyff.
Now managed by Guardiola, the team is a legitimate son of that sensational Cruyff side. The pace of their passing movement and interchanges can be just jaw dropping. Just take the front three. Leo Messi is Cristiano Ronaldo without the antics. Samuel Eto'o is Didier Drogba without the diving and Thierry Henry is, well, back to being classic Henry. It is a mark of how wonderfully they combine that their frontline has improved since Ronaldinho left.
So far this season they have scored 113 goals in all competitions, 85 of which have been come in La Liga, many more than England's top scorers, Liverpool.They define Hiddink's philosophy of defending from the front. The midfield rocks of Andres Iniesta and Xavi are so good that even if Cesc Febregas goes back to his roots in the summer, Arsenal's talisman would struggle to get a regular game.
Taking off the English blinkers, they are a cut above all contenders at the moment. It would be damned shame if Barca don't go on to lift the Champions League trophy.
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