I get it, getting knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage is devastating for a club like Barcelona, not only for its status but also its financial implication.
Everything looks gloomy but when you take a look at the bigger picture, Barcelona still has a lot to play for. They have a very good chance of winning the La Liga, Europa League, and Copa Del Rey.
In La Liga, Xavi’s boys sit second on the log, three points adrift of table toppers, Real Madrid, the joint highest-scoring team in the league, most clean sheets and the least goals conceded.
While Real Madrid leads Barcelona at the moment, it will be unsurprising to see Sergio Busquet lift the La Liga title come May. I hold the opinion that Barcelona has a better squad depth than Real Madrid and that is a significant factor in winning the league because the league is a marathon.
Barcelona being relegated to the Europa League might be a good thing after all because let us face it, they don’t have a squad that is good enough to win the Champions League yet.
Barcelona stands a better chance of having Manchester United, Arsenal, and Athletico Madrid in the Europa League than beating Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester City, and others in the Champions League.
Just take a look at Barcelona’s potential strongest XI: Andre Ter Stegen in goal, Hector Bellerin, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kunde, Alejandro Balde in defense, Frenkie De Jong, Franck Kessie, and Pedri Gonzalez sitting in the midfield while the trio of Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Robert Lewandowski. You will agree with me that the number of teams with a stronger first XI is not as much as Barcelona’s Champions League trophies.
In addition, the financial benefits that come with winning these trophies should be another motivating factor. Winning a double or treble can mitigate Barcelona’s loss from an early Champions League exit.
All Barcelona need is to be lucky with injuries and Xavi put his sentiments aside and plays his best legs and not his best friends.
Should Barcelona complete the treble, it will make up for the heartbreak suffered from the untimely exit from the Champions League and Cules can be proud of their team once again.
