10 Reasons Why Barcelona Can Win the 2014/15 Champions League
It has been several years since Barcelona last lifted the Champions League trophy. The once unbeatable Catalan giants eventually became human, but it is time to rise again.
This season sees a new Barcelona team under the management of former player Luis Enrique, and the belief is that La Blaugrana are ready to return to their European glory. But can they?
In this article, we will take a look at 10 reasons Barcelona absolutely can win the Champions League this season as well as why fans should be excited about the campaign to come.
So strap in and get ready, Cules, and be sure to get involved in the discussion in the comments section below!
The Transfer Window Isn't over
1 of 10
To begin our look at why Barcelona can win the Champions League, it is vitally important to note that the summer transfer window isn't over yet.
While it is true that some weaknesses still must be addressed, such as the defense, the Catalan side have plenty of time to bring in more players to further strengthen the squad.
According to Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football, Barcelona are nearing a deal for Valencia centre-back Jeremy Mathieu, who could complete his move very soon.
Along with Mathieu, there are many other options Barcelona could look into. Players such as Marquinhos and Mehdi Benatia could end up making a move to the Camp Nou this summer, and while things have been slow, Barcelona have the time and the options to address their weaknesses before the season starts.
Young Stars Looking for Chances
2 of 10
Every great team has a few young stars who add hunger and energy to the team, and it is no different at Barcelona.
Gerard Deulofeu, Rafinha and Sergi Roberto, just to name a few, are expected to play big roles in the team this season and will be bringing the eagerness to make an impact every time they set foot on the pitch.
The Champions League is one of the grandest stages in all of football, and every year, there are starlets who shine in the spotlight. Deulofeu and Rafinha, for instance, are going to add much more to Barcelona than just their talents.
Having young stars on a team can be just as valuable as having experienced veterans, and Barcelona just so happen to have both.
The Talent and Experience of New Additions
3 of 10
The summer transfer window will be open for a few more weeks, but Barcelona have already made several key moves. The additions of Ivan Rakitic, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo and Luis Suarez have made the squad better and will bring more than just talent.
To begin with, all four of these new additions are hungry to win. For the most part, they have not been able to compete in the Champions League, but they have now been handed the perfect opportunity to make a deep run in the European tournament.
Barcelona's new stars will also bring tons of experience to the team.
Rakitic and Suarez are proven world-class players, Bravo showcased his leadership at the World Cup, and Ter Stegen has been playing at the highest level for a while now.
Truly, Barcelona have been targeting players who bring experience and leadership along with pure skill. The four stars who have already made the switch to the Camp Nou are sure to make the team better and will play key roles in Barcelona's pursuit of the Champions League title.
New Diversity and Hunger
4 of 10
For the past few years, Barcelona have been treading water, so to speak. The same group of players has been carrying the team for a while now.
After finding so much success under Pep Guardiola, the team as a whole became complacent. It's been nearly three years since La Blaugrana looked energized and motivated, but that may be changing now.
Several young talents and new additions make up this Barcelona squad, and they will all bring energy and hunger to a team that has been visibly apathetic for a while now.
This new energy will not only give Barcelona fresh perspective and the desire to win, but it could also play a role in motivating the players who have been at the club for a long time. Barcelona have found the right balance, and it should pay off in a big way.
Luis Enrique's New Tactics
5 of 10
Barcelona's playing style has also been figured out in recent seasons. The grand tiki-taka that once dominated football is now understood and must evolve.
Luckily for Barcelona, new manager Luis Enrique is just the man to make alterations that can get the club back to their winning ways.
Enrique recently said he will make changes, and he also addressed defending as something that must improve if Barcelona are to find success:
"My team will attack, we’ll play attractive and effective football. The kind of football that millions across the world have come to love - which means we need to defend well too. I’ll be laying our my plans to the players and talking to them so that they take them on board as their own. I don’t think I’ll need to impose very much and bark out orders, we’re in this together, though I’ll be demanding hard work. We are starting to build a new Barca.
"
With those words, Enrique blessed Barcelona fans with what they have been waiting to hear for a long time: Changes are going to be made, and problems are going to be fixed.
The Main Core Is Still Intact
6 of 10
Several new faces have been introduced at the Camp Nou, but the core of the team has barely changed. While it is true that Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes and possibly Xavi will no longer be wearing the Blaugrana shirt, plenty of established players will continue to carry the team.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta may now become the most important players for the Catalan side and the biggest leaders of all. Add Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba and others, and Barcelona have a strong foundation on which the team can move forward.
Again, every team must find the right balance to be successful. Barcelona now have a healthy amount of experience and youth as well as established stars and new faces.
When it comes down to it, Barcelona have changed a lot since last season, but the team's core looks relatively similar.
As Barcelona prepare for a deep run in the Champions League, they will be counting on their new players, but the core of La Blaugrana will be looked to for leadership and vision.
Some Key Players Got Much-Needed Rest
7 of 10
Unlike the past few summers, many Barcelona players were able to get some rest this summer, which could play a big role in how the season unfolds.
While Spain's dismal display in the World Cup was heart-wrenching for fans, it could be a blessing in disguise for Spain, as six Barcelona players got a jump on their summer vacations.
Looking past the Spaniards in the Barcelona squad, Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez will be entering the season having had time to rest as well. Over the past few years, Barcelona have looked overly tired, but having time to rest may be the biggest reason the club will succeed this season.
Other Players Benefited Greatly from the World Cup
8 of 10
Not every player got to enjoy the summer break, as some were deep in the World Cup battle. However, those who went deep in Brazil have gained valuable experience that could pay off big time at the club level.
Of course, we are mostly talking about Javier Mascherano.
The Argentine was used solely as a centre-back the past couple of years, but there will be changes after his terrific display in his natural defensive midfielder role. Mascherano proved that he is still a world-class player and will certainly be returning to the midfield for La Blaugrana.
Along with Mascherano, Rakitic and Bravo had wonderful experiences playing in the World Cup. Though their teams did not go as far as they would have hoped, what they learned in Brazil will be brought into the Barcelona squad this season.
Having some players who are fresh and others who learned much in Brazil will give the Catalans some new perspective. The Champions League is never easy, but La Blaugrana have added a lot to their squad.
Lionel Messi's Magic
9 of 10
Everything being said, one of the biggest reasons Barcelona can win the Champions League is because of Lionel Messi.
Throughout his career, Messi has produced magical moments almost routinely. His ability to change a game and get a result is outstanding. When it comes down to it, Messi has the ability to win a game by himself.
It is impossible to ever count out Barcelona when Messi is on the pitch. The Argentine has suffered from injuries recently, but he looked healthy at the World Cup.
Many may still be wondering why Messi seems to be playing without the energy he used to. That is an issue that must be addressed, but, even then, he can change games by flipping his switch, as he did several times for Argentina this summer.
Messi Finally Has Help
10 of 10
While it is true that Messi can do the unthinkable at any given moment, he alone cannot carry Barcelona. For the past two seasons, the club have become overly reliant on their Argentine star, which has come back to hurt the Catalans.
Thankfully, Messi no longer has to carry the burden all by himself.
With the purchase of Luis Suarez and with Neymar having more freedom, Messi finally has two world-class forwards playing alongside him who will be able to score a lot of goals. In particular, Suarez will give Messi the outlet he needs and make parking the bus nearly impossible for opponents.
Barcelona may choose to play Messi behind Neymar and Suarez. If that is the case, Enrique will be taking advantage of the strengths of all three players and creating the most deadly attack in Europe.
Messi doesn't have to do it all by himself anymore. Suarez and Neymar are ready to share the burden, and Barcelona are primed to win the Champions League again. There will be no stopping the Blaugrana attack, and if the defense is sorted out, opponents will find beating Barcelona a very difficult task indeed.
Can Barcelona win the Champions League this season? What changes still need to be made? Leave your thoughts and comments below!
.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")
.png?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")
