3 Christmas Wishes for Barcelona Fans
Barcelona come to the end of another successful calendar year and remain the team to beat both domestically and in Europe.
Looking back over 2015, it really couldn't have gone much better, save for the odd reverse here and there—losses that Luis Enrique took as a positive rather than negative.
After the debacle of a 1-4 defeat to Celta Vigo for example, the manager noted in a press conference via Dermot Corrigan of ESPNFC:
"This result will be very good for us to show how difficult this is. It is very hard to win this championship.
Although don't think I am leaving happy with this 1-4. This will not happen many times—and it is a test which shows us the level of our league.
"
As we head for the final match of the year, Barca have to be satisfied with their league position and their record-breaking qualification from the group stages of the Champions League.
Lest we forget that the Catalans have been under the auspices of the FIFA-imposed transfer ban for the entire 365 days, yet they have still managed to secure a historic second treble and continue to play in a manner that other clubs can only aspire to.
What more could Barca's fans possibly want as a Christmas gift? Let's take a look.
Luis Enrique to remain as manager
There will come a time, as with Pep Guardiola, when Luis Enrique will be burned out by the sheer scale of it all. The management of FC Barcelona comes at a huge personal cost.
However, the locals would surely want Lucho to continue beyond this current season.
In many respects, his achievements should rank higher than Guardiola's. His treble came while under the transfer ban, and his team have scored more and conceded less than Pep's vintage.
"Record Luis Enrique in 72 games as Barcelona coach: 57W - 6D - 9L #fcblive 79.16 win %, Goals: 196-58 [via fcb]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) October 8, 2015"
Arguably, he will go down as the greatest manager in Barca's history if he can keep winning trophies at the rate his predecessor did.
Enrique does have the luxury of one of the greatest strike forces to ever play the game banging in the goals for him every week, but it's the manager that needs to bring it all together, to contain the egos and ensure the best for the team.
When you consider the calibre of player in the side at present, it is to Enrique's immense credit that he is neither overawed nor does he underplay the significance.
He continues to hit all of the right notes in the dressing room and is evidently the best fit for this current side.
Neymar to finally sign a contract extension
Is Neymar the player of 2015?
That's almost certainly the question on everyone's lips after the young Brazilian stepped up to the plate in the absence of Lionel Messi through injury.
Prior to the Club World Cup Final with River Plate, Neymar had scored 13 goals, provided eight assists and received eight man-of-the-match accolades in his previous 11 games, per WhoScored.com, and his form throughout the calendar year improved immeasurably.
That hardly anyone is talking about his inflated transfer fee now says a lot.
However, he has still not committed his future to the Blaugrana and, with Manchester United preparing a world-record bid and intent on building a team around the youngster, per Tom Sheen of the Independent, his failure to put pen to paper is a concern.
Barca's sporting director Robert Fernandez isn't fazed, telling Catalan TV station TV3 via Sky Sports:
"We are all in agreement that Neymar will stay here at Barcelona. The player has expressed it publicly, his camp too. Neymar is content and happy at Barcelona and that's the most important thing for us.
We must face the situation calmly [...] There will be an agreement with Neymar. I do no doubt that.
He will be Barcelona's [player] for many years.
"
The locals will be hoping that a definitive renewal is put in place sooner rather than later.
Champions League retention
No team has managed to retain the Champions League since the current format was introduced in the 1990s.
Only Manchester United have come close, and they were comprehensively outclassed by Barcelona in Rome in 2009 to shatter their own aspirations.
The way that Barca are playing and providing that they keep everyone fit, it's hard to look past them as becoming the first team in the modern era to finally retain the cup with the big ears.
Arguably, Bayern Munich are the only team left in the competition that are playing anywhere near Barca's own level at present.
While it isn't a foregone conclusion that Barca would reach the final at least, it would take a phenomenal performance over two legs for opponents to knock the Camp Nou side from their perch.
And there'd be some synergy for a retention to happen in 2016. The final is at the San Siro, home of AC Milan, the last team to retain the trophy back in 1990.
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