With PSG and Inter squaring off in Munich on Saturday in the Champions League final, Barcelona will be kicking themselves for what could have been.
It seemed written in the stars that this season’s Barcelona should be there. Based on talent and overall form, they deserved it based on merit. It would have been a storybook final for fans and neutrals alike to see them go up against Luis Enrique, the last manager to take the club the distance in the tournament.
But across two legs, Inter got the better of the Blaugrana, even if Barcelona had qualification in their hands with just minutes to go.
FC Internazionale Milano v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Inter are worthy finalists, it’s true. But Barcelona also beat themselves. That’s where the disappointment lies.
Next year, nothing is promised in the Champions League.
To make it to the end certainly requires talent, that’s a given, and Barcelona already has it.
Good coaching is another necessity. You can check that box as well. Hansi Flick, perhaps, could have helped his team be more pragmatic, and hopefully in season two, they will add to their repertoire the ability to see out close games for a result by adjusting the shape and placement of their defense.
FC Internazionale Milano v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
At the club level, however, the most important job lies with Joan Laporta and Deco. Flick, we know, will not ask for much. But in order to set up Barcelona for success in the tournament, they need to provide him with more depth in core positions.
Barcelona is now a team that aims to win everything. They are back among the best clubs in Europe.
Injuries and fatigue are inevitable aspects of the sport. A bit of bad luck is all it could take to derail their chances in the Champions League.
That’s why you hear so much about bringing in a new winger. Barcelona can not be so dependent on Raphinha and Lamine Yamal alone. They need more opportunities for rest before they burn out, and Flick needs to have confidence in a reliable piece for the wing that fits his system, who can fit into the regular rotation.
FC Barcelona v Villarreal CF - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images
One thing we learned in the Champions League is that the fullback position really needs added depth as well, especially on the left.
Alejandro Balde had a breakout season. He is the main man going forward. Gerard Martín deserves credit for overperforming expectations given his lack of experience, but he’s not on the level that’s required of a Barcelona player in the biggest games. In order to prove the doubters wrong, he’ll need to vastly improve his abilities going forward, which in my opinion is just something you either have or you don’t.
The other area is in the midfield, where the gossip has been quiet. Flick seems to be content with what he has on the roster, especially with Marc Bernal coming back from injury. But to be content in this area is to take a gamble.
Pedri needs to be protected. He has an injury history, and will need more rest than he got this season, because without him on the field, Barcelona is not the same.
Athletic Club v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images
In order for Barcelona to win the Champions League again, they need above all else, Pedri and Lamine Yamal to be at their best.
In order to get that, they need a deeper roster.
Barcelona had tired legs down the stretch of the season. Grit kept them going, and as a rest they won the domestic treble. But you can’t deny that several players weren’t at their best (Raphinha comes to mind), and others suffered costly late season injuries.
Luck matters in football, but clubs also make their own luck.
Laporta, Deco, and Flick will certainly be thinking through what Barcelona needs beyond a stellar gala eleven.
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It doesn’t mean they have to break the bank. We’ve already seen what’s possible when looking to La Masia for solutions.
But if they can only make a few signings, they’ll have to make them wisely.
Winning the Champions League is one of the toughest jobs in sports, and in the end, as we saw this season, it can come down to the finest of margins.