Finally, Barcelona managed to bring back the much-desired title at Camp Nou. After four long years, the departure of big stars, above all Lionel Messi – they succeeded. Probably much sooner than anyone expected, especially after a disappointing last season and relegation in the group stage of the Champions League this season. Xavi brought back the winning mentality and helped the club where he once dominated in midfield as a player to win their 27th Spanish league title.When Leo Messi left the club two years ago, the future looked dark for Barcelona. Numerous problems off the field, embezzlement and debts only added salt to the wound. The club seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper. Affair after affair rocked the Blaugrana, former presidents were accused of corruption and tax evasion. There were a series of problems that do not stop even today. Negreira case, bribery of referees and problems with player registration have followed them all season.##NAJAVA_MECA_7261720##However, Xavi made everyone forget that for a moment with the team’s performances plays on the field. He implemented numerous changes, turning a straw house into an impenetrable fortress. Everyone expected him to do the best possible imitation of Pep Guardiola and win trophies with a floating style of play, but they got something very different. And they don’t complain.Only 13 goals conceded in Primera Division means something. Most of those goals were scored by teams from the very top of the Spanish championship, of which four from arch-rivals Real Madrid and one each from Betis and Real Sociedad.Pragmatic Xavi has not changed the whole ideal on which the club rests. There is still the recognizable tiki-taka, the good old 4-3-3 formation and three artists in the middle of the field. He just modified the things that had been done to bring much-needed new blood to Barcelona. In October, it was written about his replacement, the Spanish media bid with names such as Luis Enrique and Thomas Tuchel, but the young expert managed to overcome it all.🏆 CAMPEOOOONEEEES CAMPEEEEEEONEEEES 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZHkg8JoJYk— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) May 14, 2023 GREAT SUCCESS, PENDING CONSEQUENCESThere was celebration on the streets of Barcelona when, in 2021, Joan Laporta replaced Josep Bartomeu as the club’s supremo. Which is not surprising if you consider that Bartomeu is one of the people who has blackballed Barcelona with his dirty actions behind the scenes. The man who succeeded Laporta after his first term, Sandro Rosell, did not make a name for himself, to say the least. They had a huge influence on the decline of the image that the club is going through. Fans were expecting big changes, but there was a shock and the departure of Messi five months after Laporta was selected. The new president was largely blamed for the Argentinian’s departure, and many began to doubt the success that graced Barcelona in his first term. But now everyone believes.Credit must be given to Laporta for the success of the Catalans this season. Out of virtually nothing, he managed to extract the necessary money for the reinforcements responsible for the title in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. With those two trophies, Laporta has a total of 15.Admittedly, we are yet to see the consequences of the club’s economic policy.Both the men’s and women’s Barcelona teams celebrate their respective league titles with a joint parade 🔵🔴🏆 pic.twitter.com/icyli65Vpo— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) May 15, 2023 Laporta deals with problems aggressively, he is on a war footing with half of Spain. He is constantly clashing with the first man of La Liga, Javier Tebas. Of course, he is not on good terms with Real Madrid either. The tensions between the great rivals are reminiscent of the times from his first term and it is obvious that this tried and tested tactic is working for him, so Barcelona had a noticeable advantage over Madrid for most of the season, which materialized with two important trophies.However, it seems that there is still a slight fear – is this the right way?GRANITE DEFENSEProbably no one expected that at the first mention of Barca, the defense would be the first thing that comes to mind for most fans this season. Xavi made a small revolution and thus significantly changed the course of the season. With 11 one-nil wins so far this season, the attackers have often played as much as they need to, knowing that their own net will remain intact.The full-backs, who also had a big role, fell into the background. Jules Kounde was forced to play in the right-back position, where he excelled and stepped in whenever needed. At left back in recent years, Jordi Alba has been indisputable, this season he had a slightly different role as a joker from the bench when the team is chasing a goal. Alex Balde practically forced Xavi to make this decision with incredible performances at only 19 years old. The student of Barca’s school played as many as 30 games in the league and definitely grew into a great player.However, the most important player and pillar of the defense this season, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, is Barcelona’s best-rated player by all relevant Spanish media – as many as 25 clean sheets in La Liga. The club record from 2015 held by Claudio Bravo was broken. These data only confirm the fact that the German is the foundation of the wall built by Xavi. It would be fair if Ter Stegen took the Player of the Season award this season, which undoubtedly belongs to him.⚠️ | QUICK STATBarcelona sealed the LaLiga title while conceding ZERO goals from open play by opposition players in league matches played at Camp Nou. 🤯Marc-André ter Stegen’s 2022/23 will be remembered as one of the best goalkeeping seasons in Spanish top-flight history. 💫 pic.twitter.com/Ur78gVTpEX— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) May 14, 2023 He didn’t just impress with his saves, his role is more important, he is a real leader from the shadows in the dressing room. He has also grown in the eyes of the fans, it is clear to everyone that the German goalkeeper is one of the most important factors in the success of the Catalans this year.Next to him, a name that will surely one day stand alongside the names of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique in the history of Barcelona, is Ronald Araujo. If he continues like this, the staunch sweeper will be the captain of Barcelona in the near future. Concentrated, strong and uncharacteristically fast, he was the Blaugrana’s best defender all season. When it didn’t work out, he fought, raised his teammates, and authoritatively asserted himself as a leader. When Xavi put him at right-back against Real Madrid, the Uruguayan managed to stop Vinicius Junior almost with ease. It turned out to be the right move by the Spanish strategist. Perhaps the only player who managed to stop the whirlwind Brazilian at least in some way. He was that edge much needed in the derby. Araujo is a symbol of the new Barcelona, solid, strong and modern. The scene that best describes him is the moment when, in the middle of the match, he does not want to step on the Barcelona crest next to the sideline on Camp Nou. Out of respect, of course.– “How do you feel seeing all of Barcelona out on the streets?”🗣️ Araújo: “I’m very happy, very happy, people are always cheering us on. I’ve never seen anything like this before, I’m so happy.”– “Is it better, worse, or as you expected?”🗣️ Araújo: “Better, much better.” pic.twitter.com/aQ5NNoGR7J— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) May 15, 2023 THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE IN THE MIDFIELD Barcelona have always been recognizable by their strong midfield, that has not changed with Xavi. They failed to find a replacement for Sergio Busquets, so the 34-year-old Spaniard had to carry a heavy load this season. Maybe that’s why he played the best season in the last few years, skillfully avoiding injuries. Frankie de Jong has grown into a big player for the big club, often playing under the pressure of a move to Manchester United. He didn’t want to leave, he imposed himself on Xavi in the right way and became one of the leaders of this team. De Jong’s performance in the first game of Copa del Rey against Real will be remembered when, again, as in Ajax a few years ago, he outplayed Kroos and Modric at Santiago Bernabeu in the victory of the Catalans. He was injured before the second leg, which greatly affected the debacle his teammates experienced at Camp Nou.The story of how Barcelona once again became La Liga champs 📖 pic.twitter.com/BqF3bH7gza— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 14, 2023 However, the first two names and ‘engines’ of Barcelona’s midfield machine are Pedri and Gavi. Young Spaniards have matured considerably. Pedri was tasked with improving his performance in front of goal, which he did. He scored seven goals. General impression – Catalans’ no.8 made a big step forward.Gavi played as many as 46 games this season in all competitions and gave his all in each. He often played on the left wing. In that position, he also played the match of the season in the semifinals of the Super Cup El Clasico, which will be remembered for the goal and two assists of the young Spaniard. It seems that Barça have never had such a player in their ranks. Good with the ball at his feet, but also fiesty in duels and ready to help the team win in any legal or illegal way. His rivals hate him, but every team needs a player like that.A PROPER NO.9 AT CAMP NOUThe Catalan attack was not that lethal this season. And yet a respectable 64 goals were scored in Primera Division – mainly the work of Robert Lewandowski. The wingers were struggling, the expensive Raphinha is already at the exit door even though he has double-double stats in goals and assists in all competitions. Ousmane Dembele had a great start to the season, three goals and five assists in the first 11 rounds of the championship, but as usual, injuries slowed him down.Most of the burden fell on Lewandowski, who scored 21 goals in the league and is battling for Pichichi Trophy with Karim Benzema. The Pole delivered and brought back the impact of a real no.9 to the Camp Nou that Patrick Kluivert, Samuel Eto’o and Luis Suarez wore before him, as some of the club’s biggest names.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is included in Barcelona’s La Liga-winning squad after playing eight minutes for them this season.His first league title 😅 pic.twitter.com/zG8OHM1hlB— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 15, 2023 He can be criticized for a lot – the bad form after the World Cup, mediocre performances in big games. First of all in El Clásico (he scored only one goal in the Super Cup), but it must be said that at the age of 34, Lewandowski played more than well and often led the attack.Barcelona once again made a good foundation. From a season doomed to failure, they managed to extract two trophies, but also numerous lessons. They need something more for the Champions League. This season, they were eliminated in the group stage with as many as 12 goals conceded, after which they were eliminated by Manchester United in the Europa League. The Catalans will have to analyze what went wrong in European competitions and how to change it.This is where the hard work for Xavi and the team begins.Five things you might not know about Lewandowski, the striker who has won 12 league titles in the past 13 years
