Spanish media starting to believe in Guardiola's Barcelona
Submitted by Anna Tomova on Sun, 10/05/2008 - 10:15.
Six weeks ago, before the start of the season, few people in Spain saw Josep Guardiola's new-look Barcelona side as serious candidates for the Liga title.
For a start, at just 37 Guardiola was the youngest ever Barca coach, with just one season's experience with the nursery side.
In addition, the club's summer signings, mostly defenders, had generated neither optimism nor expectation.
Guardiola had pledged to "clean out" a problematic dressing-room by off-loading Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o, but there had been no offers for the latter - so he had to stay.
Barca's worst start since 1973 - defeat against Numancia, draw against Racing Santander - confirmed the pessimism.
But to paraphrase former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, a month is a long time in football.
Against all the expectations, Guardiola's team have won their last six games (four in La Liga and two in the Champions League), with a slick passing style reminiscent of Johan Cruyff's 1990s "Dream Team" - but with even more sharpness in front of goal.
Saturday's 6-1 destruction of Atletico Madrid has caused the media to sing the praises of this "Pep Team," christened thus after Guardiola's nickname.
Against feeble Atletico, Euro 2008 best player Xavi Hernandez bossed the midfield - as Guardiola used to do under Cruyff - aided by the promising Sergio Busquets, whilst Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Eto'o calmly proceeded to rip the Atletico defence to shreds.
The 6-1 final result was actually flattering for Atletico: Barca created no less than 16 clear goal chances, hit the woodwork twice, and had a "goal" disallowed for offside.
"This was one of the best displays of attacking football seen for several years," said former Real Madrid coach Jorge Valdano, commenting the match for television channel La Sexta.
Radio Rambla, for its part, said that "the Camp Nou has not enjoyed a match in this way for a long time."
Indeed, many of the 80,000 delighted fans didn't want to go home, and stayed on way past midnight, enjoying the ambience of satisfaction and even euphoria.
The exquisite exhibition has taken Barca up to second in the table - and has made front-page news in most Sunday newspapers.
"Festival of Goals" is the headline of Catalan paper El Periodico, whilst Mundo Deportivo screams "Tremendous!" and Marca talks about a "Historic Beating."
The "Pep Team" are now favourites for the Liga title, and also a good outside bet for the Champions League.
What a difference a month makes.
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