5 Reasons Why Barcelona Will Rebound from Rough Season

There's no other way to describe Barcelona's season than an unmitigated disaster. Both on and off the pitch.

It all started so well with the appointment of Tata Martino, a coach who was going to bring fresh ideas, a different way of playing but still be successful.

Unbeaten in all competitions going into November, it looked likely that the Argentine was indeed the right man for the job. That is until cracks started appearing. 

A smattering of well below-par performances left the Barca faithful lamenting the lack of a natural central defender to partner Gerard Pique.

Despite the blindingly obvious need for the same, Sandro Rosell decided that money would be better spent on Neymar in the summer, a deal which proved the now ex-President's undoing.

The end of the 2013/14 campaign can't come soon enough as the wheels have finally come off of Barca's charge for glory, and the season is likely to end with Martino falling on his own sword, per Garreth Nunn of Football Espana.

So how can Barca bounce back?

Change of Manager

Alberto Saiz

Tata Martino is likely to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

When Tata Martino arrived in Catalonia, all of the signs were good. Here was a manager, albeit an "outsider," from South America with pedigree.

A manager from Lionel Messi's old stomping ground of Newell's Old Boys no less, Martino had been successful throughout his managerial career.

Whilst his style of play would be somewhat different to what Barca were used to, Tata's ideas were clear and everyone bought into his philosophies.

By November and still unbeaten in all competitions, things looked very rosy indeed.

That was until two awful defeats in the space of a few days, to Ajax and Athletic Bilbao, hinted at issues within the squad. Perhaps the development of the unit wasn't going according to plan.

The rest of the season has panned out in much the same way. Stunningly bad defeats to the likes of Real Valladolid and Granada peppering the kind of performances we are used to seeing.

Barca are unlikely to win any silverware after defeats to both Madrid clubs in the cup competitions. And that simply won't do.

The air of invincibility has disappeared and the Blaugrana are stumbling toward the end of a season that can't come soon enough.

Per Fabian Godoy of El Mundo Deportivo, (via Euan Mctear's report in Give Me Sport), it appears Martino has decided his short foray into Europe is at an end:

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Martino has admitted to people in his inner circle that he doesn't feel comfortable. He is not happy in Barcelona and wants to leave at the end of the season.

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His departure will allow a new man in charge to take the reins with a fresh energy and vigour and to breath new life into the team.

Squad Revamp

Alvaro Barrientos

Barcelona squad will be having an overhaul in the summer.

There can be no doubt that Barcelona need a squad overhaul. Something that has been long overdue.

Whilst a case could be made for a number of exits and incoming transfers, wholesale changes would be likely to have a negative effect.

A new central defensive partner for Gerard Pique is an absolute must, and if Barca go through yet another transfer window without strengthening the one area they have neglected for years, there will probably be a mass outpouring of anger on the streets of Barcelona.

To what extent the make up of the squad will be changed, however, will depend on the identity of any new first-team manager and what ideas he has.

It seems certain that Cesc Fabregas may be one of the players on his way out after he was booed onto the pitch during a recent game, per Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail. It remains to be seen who follows him.

A Point to Prove

Andres Kudacki

A number of players have under-performed and need to show their best work again.

Make no mistake. The recent defeats in the Copa del Rey and Champions League will have hurt the Barcelona players. 

Every member of staff has their professional pride at stake when they pull on the jersey, and for a club as successful as the Catalans, the thought of finishing the season empty-handed bar the Spanish Supercup is an unpalatable one.

Neymar still has to prove he was worth the frankly astonishing €86 million outlay, but he isn't the only one.

The Blaugrana as a whole must prove to themselves as well as everyone else that they are good enough to dine at football's top table once again.

The Return of Tiki-Taka

If Barcelona want to reach the upper echelons of European football again, they need to get back to basics. Back to doing what they do best.

Tiki-taka.

It's a style of football that has become synonymous with the Blaugrana ever since Johan Cruyff's Dream Team.

Whilst Tata Martino should be applauded for the bravery of trying to implement something different, it patently didn't work.

So, in order for Barca's best to feel comfortable and confident again, it's essential to get them playing in a style that they are familiar with.

If they can recover the high-tempo and urgency of season's past (see above), Barca fans are in for a treat.

Lionel Messi

Manu Fernandez

Lionel Messi will continue to be the difference.

The notion that Lionel Messi was somehow past his best during the current season is quite ridiculous when you consider his stats.

Despite missing almost two months, and often playing in a setup that clearly didn't suit him, the Argentine has still managed to score 26 goals and provide 10 assists in 27 La Liga appearances (two as sub), per WhoScored.com.

B/R's Guillem Balague detailed what it is that needs to happen to ensure the team get the best out of Messi once again.

One hopes that the Argentine will return from the World Cup not feeling any ill-effects, because a fit and firing Messi playing in a system that suits him far better than this season will surely pose an incredible threat to every opponent.

And Barca will be the grateful recipients of his renewed assault on the record books.