IS THIS BARCA TEAM THE BEST EVER

All season long there were whispers each time Barcelona destroyed another challenger. The whispers came in the form of the question ‘Is this the best football team ever?’ I have been watching football for more than 30 years and there are teams that I thought were exceptional.

Tapes I have seen of Real Madrid’s 1960 squad that featured Puskas suggest that that club was perhaps one of the best ever. In my lifetime Liverpool’s 1984 squad, Manchester United’s ’99 squad and Spain’s World-Cup winning squad also have to be among the teams that have played the most inspired football. However, the two squads that stand out for me among all others were the 1974 Dutch team that made it to the World Cup final and Brazil’s extraordinary 1970 World Cup winning squad that featured so much talent it could be argued that Pele, often believed to be the best player ever, was not even the best on that squad. This current Barcelona squad makes its a triumvirate.

All season long, no matter how many times I have seen them play each time I get goosebumps. Watching them dismantle Manchester United over the weekend sent tingles down my spine. Led my the incredibly gifted Lionel Messi, this Spanish club is laden with players gifted at playing in close quarters and are virtually all excellent passers. Andres Iniesta is a player of great skill and great vision, Xavi Hernandez also. David Villa is quietly one of the most lethal strikers and along with Pedro forms a formidable strike force that complements the little master Messi. I remember remarking to Boys Town Technical Director Andrew Pryce that when Barcelona play it seems as if they are all playing with one mind. Without hesitation, he agreed and said the team was one of the best he had ever seen.

What is stunning for me is that the master class delivered against Manchester United in the finals of the Champions League, wasn’t their best work of the season. For me, that piece de resistance came against their fiercest rivals Real Madrid last November. Anyone who witnessed that slaughter will never forget how absolutely exquisite it was. Barcelona on that day was like a brand new precision time piece. Everything was in harmony, everything was in perfect rhythm with the universe. Real’s very talented squad had absolutely no answer and surrendered 5-0.

Equally remarkable is how they have played at a consistently high quality all season long. Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola Barcelona never seemed to have a bad match. Even in those two matches they lost in the Spanish League to lower-ranked teams, they were better than the victors. They were pressed by Real in the Champions League but we forget that Real possesses – at least on paper – equal talent.

They capped the season with another master class that had Sir Alex Ferguson declaring that this Barcelona squad is the best he has ever faced. I am sure that there were many other great coaches this season who would not be ashamed to say that this has been their experience as well.

We can only hope for more come next season .