Few days before the game...
Pep Guardiola and
Tito Vilanova sitting around a table.
Vilanova: "Pep... We can rest Henry and use Iniesta on the left, with keita in the midfield we will have a solid midfield and lethal offense. And As you know, a fresh Henry is important for the game against Chelsea."
Pep looking at him with a smile.
Vilanova: "Alright... We can rest iniesta instead, and keep Henry-Eto’o-Messi"
Pep node his head to show that he is following what
Vilanova is suggesting while reading Marca.
But
Vilanova understands that for Pep to read Marca, it means that he (Vilanova) is saying exactly what
Pep doesn't want to hear .
Vilanova, with a warning tone this time: "
Pep, I really don't recommend benching Xavi... I know Chelsea game is ve.."
Pep starts to laugh... Takes a deep breath with that dreamy look in his eyes while looking to a big poster of no one but his idol,
Johan Cruyff.
"I wonder what he would have done, Tito"
Pep murmurs, then he gives
Vilanova that look...
Vilanova knows what it means.
"You got to be kidding me... you don't mean it right?!
Pep, Football is different now…its more demanding, physically... it's... bu... ju...”
Vilanova know this skinny guy since they were two children in the youth academy. When this arrogant creature have something in mind, then better not bothering yourself trying to discuss. So he just sit staring on
Guardiola's face.
Pep, looking back at
Johan's poster: "Yeah,
Tito... Stick to the selection that works... Stick to the selection that works." He says it as if he is getting that inspiration from heaven,
Johan has always been a football prophet for
Pep. But he notices how unsatisfied
Vilanova seems to be.
Pep leans his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his palm as he always do when he wants to start a friendly talk:
"Do you remember the game last season in Madrid?"
Pep asks.
Vilanova gasps... but
Pep smiles and continues: "I really understand your point
Tito, we can put a practical selection that wins and save batteries. But that's not what we need! Not after..." He jumps up on his feet, the chair falls down to the floor, and with a face full of sorrow he roars: "That's not what the fans want! And you know it!", pointing towards
Vilanova who stares to the floor. "I want to... I want.." and he starts walking back and forth…
It was
Vilanova who drew a smile on his face this time. He has always been a fan of this driven legend. He picks up the chair inviting
Pep to have a seat: "Alright
Pep... Let's go for it, but we still have lot of things to decide."
And the two men start another long discussion, but not an emotional one this time.
The first step they planned was to cancel the last training session before the game. Tactically the solid defense was a need. No need to gamble using defenders like Caceres because you never know if he can handle the pressure of Madrid fans in the Classico. So it was Abidal-Puyol-Pique-Alves, sticking to what works, which is one of the most well known principles of Johan's coaching methodology.
In the midfield it was the tested trio Yaya-Iniesta-Xavi. But the roles were different. Iniesta was instructed to drop deeper than usual to assist Yaya and create an outlet for Xavi at the same time. As long as the team is clicking, Iniesta must not run and get involved, he is the guy of urgent situations. Using Iniesta deeper had another objective, pulling either Gago or Diara to the midfield to mark Iniesta away of their own territory on the edge of Madrid's box, which will give more space for the second tactical surprise to work.
The second surprise was using Messi in the middle instead of the right flank. To get advantage of Xavi and Iniesta movement that confuse both Gago and Diarra, and to benefit from the slow heavy movement of Real Madrid centre backs.
In my previous article "
How will Barcelona beat Chelsea?" you can make a matching between Barcelona tactics against Real Madrid, and the tactics I demanded back then for the game against Chelsea. But instead of Xavi playing deeper and Iniesta moving forward, they switched the roles, first because Iniesta is more in need to be fresh, and secondly because Xavi is better for the one touch game. And that's exactly what you need when you make a tactical strategy to create spaces, and you put Messi in the center while facing old and slow defenders.
Juande Ramos wasn't so sure who will play on the left flank for Barcelona, is it Henry or Iniesta? So he kept Ramos on the right back to guarantee dealing with any Barcelona threat from that flank, or that's what he was hoping at least. And I even think that Sergio Ramos mental setup was more prepared for an Iniesta on the left than a Henry.
On the other side, he had Heinze as a left back and Marcelo as a left midfield and both were hired to close the path so Messi would not penetrate. They entered the pitch, positioned themselves on the left, but Messi didn't show up. Later on, they read in Marca that Messi was attacking from the center, all the time.
Lot of fans already pointed out the progress of two players: Pique, who is going to be the defense leader of Barcelona for years to come, and Iniesta. But there is a third player who improved and customized his game as well, Yaya. I remember him last season and at the beginning of this season, running with the ball through the middle, confusing our midfielders (especially Xavi), and even losing the ball and then running after the counters. Not anymore. His game is approaching perfection recently, and he certainly earned his contract extension, and enhancement.
As for Henry, he was dancing with pleasure. This was just the perfect game for him. The tempo was high, the pace was English. And with Messi moving between the attacking midfielder position and striker role, he magnetized Real Madrid players sucking them to the center as a black hole, creating a highway for Henry on the left to torture Sergio Ramos. And no one neglects Eto'o's contribution. When he opened to the right, he stretched the field for Messi and Henry. Beside doing his usual pressure on the defense.
The only bad remarks about the game were the high balls. The two goals conceded were Chelsea type. And Valdes needs to learn that the small box is his territory. While the defenders must have no naps, nor getting confused and wonder how the hell it happens that a monster like Yaya falls to the ground after a clash with... hm... Robben... They can analyze that superstitious event after the game. During the game, keep focused and alert.
While heading to his apartment, Vilanova noticed that his neighbor's TV was on. His neighbor was watching the game again. The moment Tito slipped the key in his door, the game finished and he heard his neighbor murmuring loudly with a mad excitement: "Now I dont care if I die!" Tito freezed in his place, as if hit by an electric shock! So it meant that much for the fans! The most wonderfull feeling to dream of! Pep's image came back into his mind, he shaked his head and smiled: "That psycho perfectionist was right... Again!"
Lot of things will be said about this game, I just hope I added something different to all the insightful analysis of our follow culés worldwide.
Even though personally I was expecting, and demanding, a different selection. Yeah, that Vilanova was me. But when a team performs with such a brilliance, you need to pause your calculator, clear your mind and just enjoy the show of magic. This is a kind of games that you know, after decades, you will be old, weak, ugly and while shooting a cough after every word you say, you will still insist to show up in front of your nephews and sing again and again: "yeah, I remember watching that game". They may get sick of you for telling this same story every time you feel your back pain (twice per day at least), but you will not notice that, and will keep enjoying the glory you feel pity the young breeds were not there to witness.
To the players, coaches, board of directors and all the workers serving the club and taking care of the Camp nou, we Barcelona fans want you to know that we are extremely proud of you. Nothing we say can express how we feel, so we will just say: “Thank you”.
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