Details, details.
February 22, 2014. Real Sociedad 3-1 Barcelona
La Real lead reigning champions Barcelona 3-1 – from the 58th minute. There are 32 minutes plus added time left, his team look over-run, but Gerardo Martino chooses not to use all three substitutes. He ignores the claims of Xavi, Tello, Dani Alves or Mascherano to add anything, anything at all to the task of not losing.
April 12, 2014. Granada 1-0 Barcelona
It’s a defeat which leaves Martino’s team third, and four points behind leaders Atlético Madrid. They trail to Yacine Brahimi’s 16th-minute goal. There remain 74 minutes plus added time to reverse a scoreline which helps cost them the title. But the Argentinian, again, only uses two subs, ignoring completely the chance that Sergi Roberto, Xavi, Tello or Alves might influence the match. These are just two examples of Martino, eventually, proving either too eccentric or inadequate for what this behemoth club needed at the helm. Bizarre beyond belief.
NB Barcelona lose the title by only three points
September 21, 2014. Levante 0-5 Barcelona.
Luis Enrique continues his remarkable record. He’s the bench whisperer.
First league game, Elche at home. Mascherano is sent off, the coach takes a long look at the situation. He takes off Rafinha, a former pupil of his at Celta Vigo and far more experienced than the young debutant he leaves on the pitch – Munir. Bartra comes on to shore up the back. Almost immediately after half-time the coach’s bet pays off. Munir scores a sublime, left-footed half-volley. Barcelona go 2-0 up and cruise to a win.
Second league game, Villarreal away. The yellows park several submarines. Neymar comes on first, Sandro next, then Xavi. Neymar releases Messi into the box with moments left, Messi squirms a shot under keeper Asenjo and another sub, Sandro, tucks it in. Xavi helps control the game and see it out.
Third league game, Athletic Club at home. Piqué and Neymar are left on the bench – more messages from the new coach. ‘I decide’. Status, big price tag, media pressure – all these things mean nothing to Lucho. A player is fit, focused and in form. Or he doesn’t play. Both come on and respond to the challenge. Neymar, fresh and quick when the game is stretched, scores twice. Oh, and the other sub, Sandro, comes on and in less than 60 seconds presses Laporte into giving the ball away for what will become Barcelona’s opening goal in a match which had been razor-clam tight.
Fourth league game, Levante away. Earlier tonight. Neymar twists the ankle which has already seen him limp out of the Camp Nou on Tuesday, after the 1-0 win over APOEL. Doctor Pruna nearly has to drag him off the side of the pitch because the Brazilian can smell more goals to add to his assist from Messi … but common sense prevails. Luis Enrique doesn’t send on boy wonder Munir, who’s started every game thus far in the season. He puts on Sandro again. Who adds another goal.
The power of knowing your squad well. The power of ensuring that they not only work hard but are constantly intense, focused – up for it. The power of working so hard at your job that you totally understand their form, their strengths and weaknesses … the challenge of the opposition.
At the moment, Luis Enrique is right in the zone. The harder he works, the more that comes off for him. When a squad of this talent has a coach working himself, and them, this well, then intensely good things happen.
As for Tata? Inexplicable. Just inexplicable.
