Barça continues to show an extraordinary ability to overcome difficulties in a particularly hard course for a plethora of reasons that give even more value to everything that is being achieved.
Last year ended with Andreu Plaza lifting an epic league title against Levante and the new sports director Jordi Torras launched himself for Jesús Velasco when he learned that he would not continue in the Parisian ACCS despite the fact that some preferred another option.
The man from Toledo arrived in a time of ‘lean cows’ due to the economic crisis at the club and took on a shorter roster with just two left-handers after getting the renewal until 2022 of Leandro Esquerdinha by having Matheus as the only left. The problem is that the Russian-Brazilian has not stopped linking injuries and, in fact, has been the only loss due to injury in this Latvian event.
To add insult to injury, the campaign started with a World Cup that forced Barça to face the league visit to Palma with two collective training sessions with the new coach. And he was clearly lost in the ‘premiere’ in Son Moix by 6-1.
Matheus has risked to be useful to the team
| FCB – VICTOR SALGADO
However, the team reacted much sooner than expected and linked almost a lap without losing to leave the first place that it still holds very flattened. Besides, passed the Main Round and the Elite Round of the Champions with flying colors to access the coveted Final Four.
In December and January the covid hit the workforce and in January the European Championship and the Copa América brought with them an important muscular injury of Matheus and another somewhat milder one from both Sergio Lozano and Pito. Without the first two, Barça won the Super Cup after beating Palma on penalties.
The captain recovered to be key in the conquest of a Cup of Spain in which Ferrao was not present and which ended in controversy on penalties against ElPozo in the final. By the way, since that day Murcians have not raised their heads.
A recovered Pito shone in the final
| FCB – VICTOR SALGADO
As well, Esquerdinha, Ferrao, Pito and Matheus had missed all subsequent matches to that Spanish Cup and the last three returned just in time for the Final Four of the Champions League. In fact, the former Corinthians has forced to advance the deadlines.
Y Catela, the winter signinghe has not been able to play because he did not have the transfer after the disappearance of the Russian Dinamo Samara. Special mention for the reserve team players Àlex Lluch, Óscar Dîrul, Víctor Pérez, Albert Ortas, Nicolás Marron and Jorge Carrasco, who have helped a lot in training and in matches. That said, this team is irreducible.