IMHO next Barça coach should ideally fit most of these criteria :

- Ability to implement a game model based on positional play & technical superiority.

- All the while having a "manager" mindset : can optimize existing assets instead of demanding the *perfect* profiles. 1/x - A track record of working with & developing young players (17-22 y/o) and/or help future leaders (22-26 y/o) reach their top level.

- At least 3-4 years of experience in a complex & demanding environment (can deal w/ pressure)

- Maybe not yet "elite", but hungry & ambitious.

I don't know who that midfielder is but Mbappé is gonna sack him

https://twitter.com/OAP_LFC/status/1558571252687724550

Always found it funny that the defender breaking the offside line is usually the first one to raise his hand asking the ref for an offside

Isi is a fantastic player! And Iraola destined to coach a top 6 LaLiga team (or, more probably, Athletic Bilbao). The work rate of their 2 forwards, harassing the 2 CBs + Busquets, is immense. Also how fast they track back & stay compact if that 1st line is bypassed. #barcaRayo Incredible high pressure from Rayo. Intense & effective. Needs Frenkie's conducción or Ter Stegen holding onto the ball a bit longer and attracting the press or advancing with it out of the box and pushing the team block higher. #barcaRayo #HT

It's not personal.
Just business. No manager succeeded at a corporate turnaround without being ruthless. You think a man who was ruthless with Messi will back down when it comes to other players ? You gotta do what you have to do to get out of a financial mess. That's the only thing history will remember.

Some quick notes about Lewandowski, Xavi, Laporta and Barça's Future. In no particular order.

👉🏾 thecaptn.substack.com/p/lewandowski-… When Núñez was reluctant to invest in transfers, Cruyff made (yet another) one of his famous comments :

"el dinero en el campo, no en el banco" = the money has to be on the pitch, not at the bank.

Another proof that Laporta is definitely the most Cruyffian of us all 😉

IMHO if a player wants a team to be built around him and be the boss and demand things, he first has to consistently perform at a hight level, *irrespective from the context*. I mean he has to be able to compensate & bypass the team's limits through his individual skills. Iniesta played WELL as CM, DM, winger, even wing back at times, in his first years. Xavi in double pivots. Puyol in all spots of back 4. And don't get me started on Luis Enrique or Cocu...

Even if Barça was dysfunctional & they played out of position, they drop 8/10 performance

A little follow up to this post (

https://twitter.com/CaptnGuardiola/status/1174372736757633025?s=19

)

Stressing the same idea now after the game vs Granada. It looks like Valverde is stuck halfway. 👇🏽 Some of the main requirements in terms of leadership & group management are clarity of vision/ideas, persuasion skills & consistency of choices.

Valverde isn't showing these so far. It's like he wants to make a change, but doesn't go all in. And that hesitation has consequences.