Best of the rest begin quest to get better of Barca
But Lionel Messi still knows the biggest question being asked around Europe is: Can anybody beat Barcelona?
The Champions League returns today with clubs across the continent plotting how to unseat a side that many believe is the greatest not just of this era but of all time.
The football played by Pep Guardiola’s Barca, who cruised past United 3-1 in the final at Wembley last season, is so irresistible, so fluent, fluid and fast-paced that opponents are having to completely re-evaluate their tactics ahead of the big European kick-off.
Already Alex Ferguson, who takes his team to Benfica tomorrow night, has revamped and restructured his side following a comprehensive defeat against Messi & Co in May that persuaded him he needed more youth, more energy and more dynamism to compete against Barcelona in future.
Chelsea, who proved tough opponents for Barca in the past but got nowhere near last season, have employed a new manager in a bid to win the only trophy that has eluded billionaire owner Abramovich since he arrived in west London; and Andre Villas-Boas has already shown he isn’t afraid to drop £50m man Torres to achieve it.
Torres, left out in favour of Daniel Sturridge ahead of tonight’s game against Bayer Leverkusen, dared to suggest his goal drought has been down to the older, slower players employed in midfield by his new club; and although his analysis seems poignant it hasn’t gone down well at Stamford Bridge.
“We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview,” Villas-Boas said.
“We’ll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview. Anyhow, it’s one player’s perspective. I don’t think it’s a perspective that the manager shares.”
There is a growing feeling at Stamford Bridge that Torres’ poor form — only one goal since arriving in January — is becoming a serious bar to future success; particularly significant in this competition considering Carlo Ancelotti’s decision (enforced or otherwise) to play the out-of-touch striker ahead of Didier Drogba at Old Trafford in last season’s Champions League quarter-final was widely cited as the reason for Chelsea’s ultimate defeat.
However, they are not alone in their problems because Arsenal, the only team to beat Barcelona last year when they won their first leg of their last-16 tie 2-1 at the Emirates, have been in freefall ever since — a feeling emphasised yesterday when key midfielder Aaron Ramsey was injured ahead of an already tough opening trip to Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.
And if there is pressure at Chelsea to challenge Barca at all costs (even at the expense of a record signing) then the same is even more true at Manchester City, who have out-spent Abramovich in a bid to join the big league and who face Napoli in their Champions League debut tomorrow.
“Manchester City will be interesting,” admitted Messi, who leads his team in a tough opening fixture at home to AC Milan.
“They have been growing year after year and they have bought well again this summer. But they have a tough draw, maybe the harshest. So we’ll see.
“They have a lot of money — but money is never enough to ensure success in sport on its own. You need much more.”
Abramovich and Torres can vouch for that — as can Jose Mourinho, who has spent a fortune at Real Madrid but still relies on snarling aggression to get anywhere near a Barca side that finished ahead of his team at home and in Europe last season.
So it is easy to understand why Messi remains confident.
“We know that other teams will be fighting this year but all we think about is keeping it going,” he said. “Barcelona is experiencing something unique right now. The players are happy in the field and our success seems to go on and on.
“In football there are cycles and it cannot go on forever; but I do think this generation of players has many joys left to give the fans.”
No matter what changes they are currently making in London, Manchester or Madrid, could anyone seriously disagree with that?
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