Grudge Champions
Barring a major reverse Chelsea will this afternoon secure their Premier League Championship while FC Barcelona will once again become Spanish champions next week.
Both victories open up the prospect of a deepening rivalry between two clubs whose encounters in the Champions League in recent seasons have been tough and bitter, thus securing the reputation of being one of the must-watch ‘grudge’ matches of the international football calendar.
Last night Barca played the kind of beautiful football that has earned it universal respect, even if Sevilla’s two goals were the product of an appalling loss of concentration by Barca’s defence which left a furious Pep Guardiola punching the side of his dug-out.
Guardiola was in a strange mood for much of the match, his concentration wandering at times when not drawing him into a contemplative state which seemed far from removed from the developing drama on the pitch.
One suspects that with the season almost over, Guardiola’s thoughts could justifiably be turning to the future. Will he settle for his achievements so far and quit while the going is good, or hang in there, an inseparable part of the Barca institution, interminably, much as Ferguson has endured at Manchester United?
If and when Guardiola’s mind turned to last night’s match, his thoughts must have revolved round his decision to keep Ibrahimovic on the bench, and opt for Bojan instead at such a critical stage in the championship. It was after all Guardiola who was largely responsible for bringing the Ibrahimovic over from Italy in the subsidised swap deal involving Samuel Etoo, and most Barca fans now believe this to have been a big mistake. The tall Swede has generally underperformed and the worst games that Barca has played have been with him present in the team.
By contrast Bojan who has spent large chunks of the season relegated to an observer status was last night like a terrier off the leash, a constant menace in attack, and scorer of a hard-won goal. While in my view Bojan lacks the speed, strength and skill of Pedro-for me the revelation of the season-he nonetheless showed himself hugely motivated, while motivating Messi in a way that Ibra fails to do.
I hope Guardiola stays on at Barca next season, just as I hope Mourinho ends up at Real Madrid. Then we can look forward to not just two grudge encounters, but four or more!
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