Catalan club face the unappetising prospect of ending the season with no prize
Barcelonas' Gerrad Martino may end the season without a single trophy (Photo : DC)
It’s crisis time at Barcelona. After a terrible set of results that has affected them on three fronts, the Catalan club face the unappetising prospect of ending the season with no prize for the first time in six years. A season that had promised so much a fortnight ago is on the verge of collapse now.
Barcelona’s Argentine coach Gerardo Martino will probably pay with his job for being not able to add something to the trophy cabinet that has seen feverish activities in recent times. Expectations can be as absurd as they are unrealistic in Catalonia. Barcelona are victims of their own success. The benchmark set by Pep Guardiola during his glorious reign is so high that it’s never easy for anyone to emulate the current Bayern Munich boss.
There are defeats and defeats. Losing a cup final against Real Madrid is a catastrophe for Barcelona. Real celebrated the Copa del Rey triumph as if the 10th European Cup had been won. Martino would be wondering whether he had made the right choice in occupying the Barca hot seat.
Club legend and former manager Johan Cruyff has rubbed it in by calling for the return of Pep. It’s blatantly unfair to put down Martino who has had a decent season by any yardstick. But that’s life at a club that claim they are more than a club. Gareth Bale is the man of the moment for the supporters of Los Blancos.
The flying Welshman’s energy and invention was incredible as he brushed aside the challenge of Barca defender Marc Bartra near the centre line before setting off on a dash that culminated in the winner six minutes from time. The world record fee Real paid Spurs to bring Bale to the sunnier climes of Spain is still shrouded in mystery, but the club certainly recouped some of the money on Wednesday night.
The match winner had a sense of occasion as Real had to do the job in the absence of the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the cheerleader supreme at the stands. Zinedine Zidane, who played such a crucial role in influencing Real to loosen their purse strings in pursuit of the Welshman, was at the touchline alongside coach Carlo Ancelotti to savour the moment.
It was a goal the Frenchman would be proud of, although he never had the pace of the priciest man in world football. Bale, who is the epitome of dedication, is on track to secure a place in the pantheon of Welsh greats alongside Billy Meredith, John Charles and Ryan Giggs.
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