Barcelona’s January Woes: Goodbye to Supercup, Copa del Rey, and Almost the League

In just 15 days into January, Barcelona has bid farewell to two titles – the Supercup and Copa del Rey – and almost certainly, their hopes for the league have dwindled as well. It’s been a challenging start to the year. However, in an attempt to alleviate tension within the club and the team, Xavi announced that he will depart on June 30. Presently, catastrophic theories abound, with blame being apportioned based on individual interests and conceptual errors riding a rollercoaster of affirmation and denial depending on the outcome. It’s crucial to analyze the current situation and the match itself; that’s what truly propels progress. The undeniable fact is that, come January’s end, only the Champions League remains.

While it’s plausible that the offside that nullified Villarreal’s goal should not have been called, and the penalty should have been, Barcelona made numerous errors in the Montjuïc encounter. There was no order or solidity. The team showed explosiveness when attempting to stage a comeback but appeared disjointed when Villarreal pressed in the final minutes. Defensive lapses were astonishing, in stark contrast to the commendable work done in the previous season. It’s not merely a matter of immaturity, given the presence of both young and experienced players. There’s a clear psychological and conceptual fragility.

Barcelona elevates its game to mount a comeback, increasing the pace of the ball, passion, heart, and intimidation. However, once they equalize, they ease off the gas, everything unravels, and there’s a lack of order and seriousness. This doesn’t mean resorting to slow-paced possession but rather reading the game intelligently. Over the last five games, Barcelona conceded 16 goals – a statistic that raises serious concerns. The issue is not solely with Barcelona’s failures; Marcelino’s Villarreal succeeds, exemplified by the decisive counterattack for the third goal. It’s challenging to commit a tactical foul in such situations. The concept of seriousness, control, and order shouldn’t solely be associated with slow possessions. It’s about positioning, character, and confidence. Barcelona’s players must maintain maximum concentration and intensity throughout every minute of every game; that’s top-tier football. This recurring problem has been acknowledged for a while, but the desire to fix it alone is insufficient.