Barça's new era surrenders to Messi
"The first of a new era". A photo with this text accompanied Barcelona's first tweet after winning the Copa del Rey for the 20-21 season. A 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at La Cartuja with goals from Griezmann, De Jong and two from Leo Messi.
Spanish football lived its own particular party. It was not the one the two fans would have liked because the stands of the Seville stadium were empty and that prevented the national anthem from being whistled, but there was something to celebrate. Luis Rubiales' RFEF and Javier Tebas' LaLiga had signed a truce in their war to give this match the status of a big game. No first division football on Saturday so that all eyes could focus on the Copa final. With Pedro Sánchez and Felipe VI in the box after playing a game of table football with Rubiales and Juanma Moreno president of the Junta de Andalucía in the Sports Museum inside the immense Olympic stadium.
It was a match of supporters. The RFEF wanted to play the two Cup finals with fans in the stands, but it was impossible. It's not just the pandemic, it's the image. Professional football is a social attraction. A product that was even put at the service of the forgotten Radar Covid application. The engine of society for those who follow it and those who do not. It was time for La Cartuja to have the great photo of the return of spectators to the stadiums. Of Rubiales' great goal, why not. But the Junta de Andalucía and Sanidad were not brave enough. It will be LaLiga that will push for it in May.
The match had no mysteries for Barça. They have known what to play for months. Koeman has found the balance between the youngsters and the veterans. He has managed to bring a smile back to Messi's face and even Piqué returned to the starting line-up to keep a clean sheet. Opposing them was a lost Athletic. The defeat in the previous cup final against Real Sociedad was still weighing on them. The chances they did have were more down to mistakes by the blaugranas' defence than their own success. Marcelino's flower has dried up in two bad afternoons. From being able to pull out the Gabarra to sinking the fleet in the estuary. The good press put him on a pedestal that football takes you down from.
The new era of Barça goes through Messi. Even if the player mocked Bartomeu to his face when he told him that the future Barça would be built on him. Laporta knows that it is impossible to pay him one more salary, but he also knows that there is something stronger than money inside the Argentine. His respect for Barça prevented a parade through the courts to leave the club and that "seny" can bring him closer to his team. The message on social networks was for Messi. Dedicated to the "10". Let him know that since he has lifted the Copa del Rey on 17 April 2021, a new era begins. A new president whom he knows well and a way of understanding football that he can look forward to.
Koeman's Copa del Rey is an accolade for a coach who was passing through and who could be the last straw for the culés. His constant refereeing complaints take away a lot of his credibility, but no one is unaware of his ability to manage an unbalanced and inexperienced squad well. His second Cup in Spain. The first was in that powder keg that was Valencia in 2008. The one in Seville is the positive reinforcement of a demanding job with a team that was unbalanced.
Barça have won the Copa del Rey at the most delicate moment of the season. The Champions League is forgotten, but the league is possible. Koeman's side can do the double if they win every game. On 8 May they face Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou to close the two-point gap. Who knows how Spain's big three will fare on that day, but Barça are depending on themselves to win the league. The first title for players like Pedri and Dest is a reward for their short career and an incentive for the end of the season.
One thing is certain, Barça will no longer finish the season in white.
