No amount of struggle can stop Barcelona's heart from sinking this season. That's right, this season's Barcelona seems to be running on the green field, but in fact it is more like being judged on the judgment table of history. From the glory of the Yumeji era, it seems that now they only have the glory that can only be found in their memoirs.
Back then, Barcelona football was a picturesque game, but now we are witnessing tragedy after tragedy, especially in the recent national derby. Come to think of it, the two leads were tied and the final blow from Bellingham was even more dramatic than a soap opera. Not only was it their fourth defeat of the season against Real Madrid, but their worst national derby performance since 1984. Although the plot of the story is tense and exciting, for Barcelona fans, the script is too bloody.
And the reality is even more skinny, with only six rounds left in La Liga, Barcelona is 11 points behind, and the championship glory can only be sighed. Champions, no kidding, Barcelona can't even keep up with their own shadow right now. At the end of the day, there may be nothing left of this season, and who would have thought of such a script?
Of course, the dismal performance was just the tip of the iceberg. Xavi's departure has marked the end of an era, with team stalwarts such as Araujo facing a transfer, and everyone seems to be quietly putting a price tag. Barcelona in the post-Messi era is fighting for survival every day, either calculating how to balance the books in the transfer market, or struggling to support on the pitch.
The financial shackles left Barcelona breathless. La Liga's salary cap is like a sword of Damocles hanging over the head, ready to fall at any moment. Next season's salary cap is 70 million euros less than this season, which is undoubtedly worse for a star-studded team. And the battle on the pitch is often made more difficult by the penalty issue, as if the direction of the game is controlled by an invisible hand.
For example, in that national derby, Yamal's shot was clearly over the goal line, but the referee ruled that it was invalid. This verdict directly changed the direction of the game, do you say that the people are angry or not? This is not counting, Barcelona's penalty luck all season has been bad at home, and all the penalties in the game against Real Madrid are given to each other, this luck is even worse than buying a lottery ticket.
But then again, it's all part of football. Trials may be a grind, but for Barcelona, every defeat is like a hammer blow, and it hurts. Xavi's quietness and Lewandowski's helplessness all show a heavy sense of powerlessness. The mood of the fans probably changed from fiery passion to calm despair.
In the end, the scariest thing for Barcelona is not the loss, but the unclear future. When the core of a team can become a commodity in the transfer market, when financial pressures force you to cut love, how easy is the future?
However, the beauty of football is that no matter how brilliant yesterday was, there is always a new story waiting for us tomorrow. For Barcelona, perhaps what is needed now is not only technical and tactical adjustments, but also a sense of open-mindedness and the courage to reinvent the future. The future is still long, and there are many stories, so we will wait and see.