So much talk and endless discussions have been unfurled on how United is in dire need of a total rebuild with the need to remove the rot that had set in after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.<\/p>\n
Innumerable mistakes had been made and even repeated with so much money wasted on acquiring new talents that didn\u2019t always gel with whatever crumbling philosophy the club still had, not to mention a succession of doubtful managerial appointments that it is only understandable to conclude United is indeed currently too far behind for them to compete with the likes of City, Liverpool and Chelsea.<\/p>\n
Seriously, would a new manager change all that? Of course he would, the right one, that is. Why not?<\/p>\n
Case in point \u2013 Barcelona. The Blaugranas had been fabulously and indulgently foolhardy in making big, expensive mistakes and questionable appointments that saw them end up in a gigantic financial cesspool. Shackled by complacency under the management of a despotic, clueless board prior to the current regime, Camp Nou was driven by a blind belief that they could just simply buy themselves out of trouble, and they splurged indiscriminately for the past few seasons. The eventual outcome leading to the exit of their legendary, iconic talisman Lionel Messi was clear for all to see and learn from.<\/p>\n
But Barcelona have since shown that they have been able to turn a new page by appointing the right coach \u2013 sure, there were a few stop-gap measures in that area where they did try to fill in the slot with some questionable candidates who huffed and puffed at best \u2013 who also has been key in helping to augment the depleting talent in the squad with a few good signings to expedite the process of transformation. For sure there are no quick fixes, but the process can certainly be accelerated by thinking, and acting, smart outside the proverbial box and changing the paradigm to accommodate the new order. No more harking back to the old world to regale the depressed soul with tales of past glory.<\/p>\n
Of course one could easily argue that the task is possibly easier to accomplish in Spain right now compared with the Premier League given that Real Madrid, despite being top of the table, are nowhere near as convincing as they were under Zidane the last two seasons. They are a shade beneath the Premier League\u2019s top three, to the point that there is now a question mark hovering above the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti. It\u2019s only too obvious that there has been an over-reliance on Karim Benzema and the obsessive desperation of the pugnacious Florentino Perez to sign Kylian Mbappe, on whom they are pinning all their hopes for the coming seasons.<\/p>\n
Although at this yet early juncture it is still unclear how firm the foundations of Barcelona\u2019s revival are, at least some signs of salvation of sorts are becoming discernible at Camp Nou now. The possible rising of a phoenix from the ashes of an incendiary past under Bartomeu is a promising new chapter that is being written. Of course the financial problems that forced the departure of Lionel Messi are still there, which would add to the intrigue of how and where they got the money to make some of their signings.<\/p>\n
Oddly, the situations at Old Trafford and Camp Nou are not all that dissimilar, at a glance. The latter have fine young midfielders in Pedri, Gavi, Nico and Frenkie de Jong but bear in mind that it was not long ago that the cadre of emerging talent in the United stable was also being hailed as being most promising. The parallels do exist, up to a certain point.<\/p>\n
And while Barcelona looked high and low for funds to recruit new reinforcements, the Manchester club casually reached into the till to pay for glittering young stars and mellowing superstars in the likes of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo. Plus another seasoned campaigner Raphael Varane ito boost up the defensive lines.<\/p>\n
With both teams respectively in place, it was then incumbent upon them to install the right head coaches. Although Barca had earlier lucked out with Xavi, whom club president Joan Laporta had decided was too inexperienced and was passed over last summer, the promises and excuses proffered by now departed manager Ronald Koeman rang hollow and Xavi finally ended up as the latest replacement.<\/p>\n
Although it would be way too premature to hail Xavi as the savior at Camp Nou, the work he has done even at this early juncture draws striking parallels with Solskjaer\u2019s first few months at Old Trafford. The veteran Spaniard has certainly managed to bring back the fun whilst inculcating the passion of playing, easing the pressure on and off pitch and educating the younger and the newer players on what the club stands for. And the results on the pitch have been most rewarding, to say the least, as evidenced in their recent 4-0 trouncing of bitter rivals Real Madrid in the El Clasico. A totally unexpected turnaround.<\/p>\n
Since Solskjaer clearly wasn\u2019t the ideal candidate that could have been United\u2019s Xavi, who could that person be?<\/p>\n
United have splurged more than \u00a31 billion since Alex Ferguson retired and the fruits, if any, are meager. Five years have lapsed since they last laid hands on a trophy. It is likely that a wider \u201creset\u201d is required and it could take years for them to hit the comeback trail.<\/p>\n
It does make some sense to perhaps take a drone\u2019s perspective view across the horizon over to the Spanish landscape to scope out what Xavi is doing in showing that the process of salvation can be shortened considerably. Whether the seasoned and battle-honed Spaniard maintains ithe impressive momentum, no one is the wiser, but the signs are undeniably encouraging.<\/p>\n
Barca fans are beginning to fall in love with the football their team are playing again, and are applauding the reshaping of a squad deemed beyond redemption and singled out for ridicule after their hero Messi had left.<\/p>\n
United would surely love to identify with that kind of resurgence.<\/p>\n
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