In this heart warming Cruyff’s Corner:

Barcelona vs Inter Milan
The Envied Barcelona Style
The Dream of Inter
Guadiola’s Faith

There wasn’t a match. Or was there? And if there was, Barca were the only ones playing, how they wanted and when they wanted. It was an authentic luxury.

The Barca of Life, The Barca of the Masia, stomped the Italian Leaders.

Of course, yes, it was a complicated game. Barca, not because they lost their lead in the competition, not because they played horrible games, found themselves in a delicate situation: they had to win, and their rival, they said, was the strongest team, the leader of Calcio. It was a night of Champions, and we all knew that the stadium would respond. The only thing that was left to do for Barca, was for them to return to their origins. Of little importance was the line-up they constructed. The only thing that mattered was to turn on the old Barcelona engine. Guardiola knew how to do it, and his team remembered it. Even if it was 15 months ago.

Europe Enjoys Barcelona Once Again

Last night’s game had a point, it served for a purpose. That purpose was to show Spain, Europe, and the whole footballing world once again, that when Barcelona turns on their engine, they play at their best level, and hence no team can defeat them. Inter, the Italian leader, got dizzy by Barcelona’s style of playing, they were defeated by one of the best Barcelona teams. But then YOU come, and you begin to buy muscle, you begin to buy fame, you even buy talent, but there is no money in the world that can pay or buy style. And for years Barcelona has had an unmistakable, envied, and impossible to imitate style. Because it is born in its school, developed in the inferior teams, and it perfections itself in the subsidiary team and thus it explodes in the Camp Nou, there is no other team that has this. Because of this, yesterday night, many of us felt proud that this style of playing, and having such an understanding of football, showed and gave a recital, a lecture, to a boring Inter.

They Stopped Playing Their Usual Way, And Lost.

There are many ways to play against Barca. Well, in reality there are many ways to play football. Last night, at Camp Nou, Barca played the way they know how to play, with its unmistakable style, dispensing their rival. The Rival, the Inter of Jose Mourinho, thought they could beat Barca by floating all over the field. They thought: we will steal one, two, three balls, and send them to Eto’o or Milito, beating them in a counter attack. But when you let Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets, three from homegrown players as you can see (Inter didn’t even have one Italian), touch and touch the ball, controlling it and having possession, and then there you are, just floating all over the field, you are bound to end up being fatigued, fed up with having to run all over. The Italians could not keep up with the weight of their boots in the second half, because they were floating all over the field, chasing a dream, the ball. And, once you acquire the lead 2-0 (very fast) then, my friend, your rival will begin to play with you, with the rush of the clock, they will become your friend and be with you when you play against Real Madrid this Sunday. Never before (and you can ask yourself) has Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets played so beautifully, so free, so liberated, their way, so happy.

And All This Without Using The Superstars

Guardiola said it one day before, “let me dream because we are capable, we can win without Messi or Ibrahimovic.” To win and to show off. And almost making it a goal fest. Because last night’s triumphant win, was no ordinary win. It was a victory that pays off for all that was done, all that was thought, all that was meditated, and all that was prepared for. Because you win against Inter, and you do it without two of your best players, without those who we call Superstars, Messi and Ibrahimovic. This is a lesson for all, yes, read it well: A Lesson for All. Perhaps Guardiola was brave on not summoning them. Perhaps it was the thought of not wanting to risk anything. Perhaps he is resting them to unleash them this Sunday. But Guardiola was faithful to his style, he believed with all his heart on what he said, “The style, the determination, and the believe of winning will take us to become a great team, with or without them. YES.”

“We are going to shut a lot mouths” is the message that has come out of los Blancos dressing room ahead of their el Clasico clash, and they intend to redeem themselves this weekend.

Pep Guardiola arrives late for training for the first time ever on Thursday November 26th, 2009. Everyone receives him with applause (Abidal does intend to give him a “colleja”). Then the team welcomes the renewed contract of Abidal.

Colleja: A slap in the back of the neck done with the palm, very typical in Spain between friends.