Is it ta-ta to Tito?
Not
since the days of the early 2000s has a Barcelona side looked so inept in a
high-profile fixture, with German opponents Bayern sweeping them aside
emphatically in Munich last night.
A
defeat of this magnitude has been coming, considering the poor first-leg
performance in Milan at the last-16 stage of the Champions League, closely
followed by two largely uninspiring performances against Paris Saint-Germain in
the quarter-finals (not to mention the group stage loss away to Celtic). A
30-minute cameo from half-fit superstar Lionel Messi in the second-leg of the
tie with PSG was all that separated the sides, as Barcelona narrowly squeezed
through to the last four.
Without
doubt, the disruption caused by Tito Vilanova’s illness and absence during the
season will have been a distraction to the players and perhaps a lack of
direction has set in within the camp. Jordi Roura kept things ticking over in
La Liga and they stand on the verge of sealing the league title after
surrendering it to great rivals Real Madrid last campaign. However, it’s at the
top table of European football where they’ve failed to reach the heights of old
and it brings about the suggestion that the golden era for this crop of Barca
stars is over.
In
previous seasons, the likes of Xavi and Iniesta were as influential as the
diminutive Messi, but it seems they’ve become over-reliant on the Argentine genius,
the team looking a pale shadow of Guardiola’s Barcelona when Messi’s either unavailable
for selection or not fully fit like yesterday evening. The question surrounding
former assistant coach Vilanova has to be asked, is he the right man to take
Barcelona forward?
Since
2003, with the arrival of Ronaldinho and the start of young president Joan
Laporta’s plan to put Barcelona at the top of the tree once again, the Camp Nou
club have been dominant at home and in Europe. First Frank Rijkaard, then
former captain Pep Guardiola led a Barca revival that culminated in becoming
the world’s greatest and most-admired team. There is no doubting they’ve taken
backward steps since last summer and last night the powerhouse that is Bayern
were far too strong, agile, powerful and brutally effective against their
illustrious foes.
Perhaps
Tito Vilanova is best suited to his former role of assistant coach, as the head
coach at such a big club has to be able to cajole and cuddle his players when
needed, but must also possess a ruthless streak ready to be broken out of his locker
when the situation requires it. I don’t know Vilanova personally, but I get the
feeling from his demeanour that he is far too mild-mannered to bring about a change
in the direction the team is headed; I simply can’t see him being able to
motivate and inspire his players when the going gets tough.
The achievement of winning back the La Liga crown will give Vilanova a satisfied feeling, especially as Barcelona have run away with the title in all honesty. However, maybe it’s time for a head coach with significant experience of European football to come in and take the reins in time for next season.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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