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Spanish Inquisition: Barcelona Keep Winning, But Where Has Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Scoring Form Gone?
Goal.com's Paul Macdonald highlights how the Blaugrana's form is in stark contrast to their struggling Swede's...
| Bet: | Returns: | Osasuna £90.00 | Draw £47.50 | Barcelona £13.33 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Osasuna £85.00 | Draw £47.50 | Barcelona £13.60 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Osasuna £90.00 | Draw £45.00 | Barcelona £13.64 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Osasuna £85.00 | Draw £47.50 | Barcelona £13.60 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Osasuna £85.00 | Draw £45.00 | Barcelona £13.10 |
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Feb 3, 2010 12:03:00 PM
By Paul Macdonald
During any other close season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s tickertape arrival at the Camp Nou would have dominated the landscape of European football. He ticks all of the right boxes where the phrase 'Global Superstar' is concerned, and his capture represented the kind of transfer that has only taken place on rare occasions historically.
But with Real Madrid confounding a worldwide recession to embark on a season of unprecedented spending and land a flurry of seemingly unfeasible signings, they cast a considerable shadow over the Blaugrana's headline act. And while Pep Guardiola’s men would have been far from fearful of their biggest rivals (publicly at least), Ibrahimovic’s entrance had an element of the Catalan giants flexing their financial muscle and elitist standing in the game.
In essence, you couldn’t quite shake the notion that Barcelona were "Keeping up with the Jones’’ by purchasing the Swede in a gigantic cash-plus-Samuel Eto’o transaction, to match the influx of talent employed by their nemesis.
Zlat's The Man For Pep
That’s not to say the 28-year old wasn’t greatly sought after by Guardiola; the wily tactician clearly felt that to bring another dimension to Barcelona’s game, he required a greater physical presence and an individual with greater technical ability to operate through the centre. The coach plainly did not see eye to eye with Eto’o, but the Cameroonian’s pace and powerful running attributes are polar opposites to the craft of 'Ibracadabra'.
In many ways, he appeared the perfect fit – and the naysayers and doubters who questioned his adaptability to Barcelona’s collective philosophy were left thoroughly silenced by his blistering start to the season.
Ibrahomivic netted in six of his opening seven matches in all competitions for his club, but his overall contribution to the team was the most eye-catching by-product of his introduction. He seemed to be in tandem with the triumvirate of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Lionel Messi, could retain possession (the Holy Grail as far as Guadiola is concerned) and, crucially, seemed content in his new surroundings.
The pinnacle of his period in Spain unquestionably came with one swing of his left boot, the volley that clinched El Clasico kudos and steal a march in the race to the Primera Division title.
Until that point, Ibrahimovic could have been classed as the signing of the season in Europe. The concern currently for followers of the Blaugrana is that since that memorable strike, his performances have slowly diminished.
The evidence is undeniable; after a prolific first half of the season, 2010 has saw the other face of Ibra; the sulky, demure, self-doubting flip-side that shows the demeanour of a man at odds with himself.
A solitary Copa del Rey strike versus Sevilla interrupts a desperately barren period in front of goal, which currently stands at one goal in eight matches. More worryingly, however, is how unlikely he looks to score at all; where previously his adept football brain would navigate him into the path of slide-rule passes or whipped crosses, he seems a yard behind the action. The passes and crosses are still arriving – it just isn’t Ibrahimovic that is on the end of them.
Perhaps it was those who queried his capacity to raise his game and exceed expectations who jolted him into action back in August – then, he felt he needed to stamp his authority on La Liga in the opening matches by registering a statement of intent.
But he holds a heavy pose at the moment, the Swede, and it is one of unadulterated frustration. His mannerisms hint of a lack of underlying desire to recapture the slick, adroit performances that he is undeniably capable of. The arrogance and self-importance that has defined and potentially hampered his career to date can only be offset by showcasing his talent on the pitch, and the Camp Nou faithful are beginning to voice their displeasure, because at the moment, Ibrahomivic seems to be more concerned with his own personal drop in standards rather than the success of the team.
As the age old saying goes, though, form is temporary and class is permanent, and if there is one superlative that a flowing Ibrahimovic can purvey, it is aplomb when a ball is at his feet. The temporary component will return through time, of that there can be no question.
Indeed his current malaise has not yet nudged Barcelona from their stride. His teammates have stepped up to compensate and ensure that the club remain on track for success, and the points continue to rack up in a second successive near-flawless season.
Lionel Messi is scoring again, and has edged ahead of both his striking compatriot and Valencia’s David Villa in the Pichichi race having netted 15 league goals so far this season. Pedro has been a model of consistency since breaking into the side in the opening matches of the season, while Dani Alves is back to his rampaging best on the right hand side. Vibrant victories against Sevilla, both in an ultimately unsuccessful recovery in the Copa del Rey and a resounding 4-0 league win, were stark reminders to rivals Los Blancos and the rest of Spain that Barcelona are just as capable as ever of concocting mind-boggling displays of fluidity and flair.
But the mid-season concentration on domestic affairs is once again about to be infiltrated by European desires, and in order to retain the Champions League, Guardiola can ill-afford to have any of his starting XI performing at anything other than full capacity. The man in the dugout is too knowledgeable not to consider this an issue, and so it lies with him to revive Ibra and re-assure him of his value to the dynamic that makes Barcelona such a formidable outfit.
He will no doubt publicly back his flagship purchase should the sceptics from the close season find their voice once more, but behind the scenes it will require all of his coaching expertise to ensure that the player is not burdened by the knowledge that even his coach is scrutinising his displays more intensely than usual.
If anyone can maintain the balance between disciplinarian and counsellor, it’s Pep. If Ibra takes heed, he could produce another Primera Division title out of the hat.
But with Real Madrid confounding a worldwide recession to embark on a season of unprecedented spending and land a flurry of seemingly unfeasible signings, they cast a considerable shadow over the Blaugrana's headline act. And while Pep Guardiola’s men would have been far from fearful of their biggest rivals (publicly at least), Ibrahimovic’s entrance had an element of the Catalan giants flexing their financial muscle and elitist standing in the game.
In essence, you couldn’t quite shake the notion that Barcelona were "Keeping up with the Jones’’ by purchasing the Swede in a gigantic cash-plus-Samuel Eto’o transaction, to match the influx of talent employed by their nemesis.
Zlat's The Man For Pep
That’s not to say the 28-year old wasn’t greatly sought after by Guardiola; the wily tactician clearly felt that to bring another dimension to Barcelona’s game, he required a greater physical presence and an individual with greater technical ability to operate through the centre. The coach plainly did not see eye to eye with Eto’o, but the Cameroonian’s pace and powerful running attributes are polar opposites to the craft of 'Ibracadabra'.
In many ways, he appeared the perfect fit – and the naysayers and doubters who questioned his adaptability to Barcelona’s collective philosophy were left thoroughly silenced by his blistering start to the season.
Ibrahomivic netted in six of his opening seven matches in all competitions for his club, but his overall contribution to the team was the most eye-catching by-product of his introduction. He seemed to be in tandem with the triumvirate of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Lionel Messi, could retain possession (the Holy Grail as far as Guadiola is concerned) and, crucially, seemed content in his new surroundings.
Zlatan began the season in superb form
The pinnacle of his period in Spain unquestionably came with one swing of his left boot, the volley that clinched El Clasico kudos and steal a march in the race to the Primera Division title.
Until that point, Ibrahimovic could have been classed as the signing of the season in Europe. The concern currently for followers of the Blaugrana is that since that memorable strike, his performances have slowly diminished.
The evidence is undeniable; after a prolific first half of the season, 2010 has saw the other face of Ibra; the sulky, demure, self-doubting flip-side that shows the demeanour of a man at odds with himself.
A solitary Copa del Rey strike versus Sevilla interrupts a desperately barren period in front of goal, which currently stands at one goal in eight matches. More worryingly, however, is how unlikely he looks to score at all; where previously his adept football brain would navigate him into the path of slide-rule passes or whipped crosses, he seems a yard behind the action. The passes and crosses are still arriving – it just isn’t Ibrahimovic that is on the end of them.
Perhaps it was those who queried his capacity to raise his game and exceed expectations who jolted him into action back in August – then, he felt he needed to stamp his authority on La Liga in the opening matches by registering a statement of intent.
But he holds a heavy pose at the moment, the Swede, and it is one of unadulterated frustration. His mannerisms hint of a lack of underlying desire to recapture the slick, adroit performances that he is undeniably capable of. The arrogance and self-importance that has defined and potentially hampered his career to date can only be offset by showcasing his talent on the pitch, and the Camp Nou faithful are beginning to voice their displeasure, because at the moment, Ibrahomivic seems to be more concerned with his own personal drop in standards rather than the success of the team.
It's been a while since we've seen Ibra firing on all cylinders
As the age old saying goes, though, form is temporary and class is permanent, and if there is one superlative that a flowing Ibrahimovic can purvey, it is aplomb when a ball is at his feet. The temporary component will return through time, of that there can be no question.
Indeed his current malaise has not yet nudged Barcelona from their stride. His teammates have stepped up to compensate and ensure that the club remain on track for success, and the points continue to rack up in a second successive near-flawless season.
Lionel Messi is scoring again, and has edged ahead of both his striking compatriot and Valencia’s David Villa in the Pichichi race having netted 15 league goals so far this season. Pedro has been a model of consistency since breaking into the side in the opening matches of the season, while Dani Alves is back to his rampaging best on the right hand side. Vibrant victories against Sevilla, both in an ultimately unsuccessful recovery in the Copa del Rey and a resounding 4-0 league win, were stark reminders to rivals Los Blancos and the rest of Spain that Barcelona are just as capable as ever of concocting mind-boggling displays of fluidity and flair.
But the mid-season concentration on domestic affairs is once again about to be infiltrated by European desires, and in order to retain the Champions League, Guardiola can ill-afford to have any of his starting XI performing at anything other than full capacity. The man in the dugout is too knowledgeable not to consider this an issue, and so it lies with him to revive Ibra and re-assure him of his value to the dynamic that makes Barcelona such a formidable outfit.
He will no doubt publicly back his flagship purchase should the sceptics from the close season find their voice once more, but behind the scenes it will require all of his coaching expertise to ensure that the player is not burdened by the knowledge that even his coach is scrutinising his displays more intensely than usual.
If anyone can maintain the balance between disciplinarian and counsellor, it’s Pep. If Ibra takes heed, he could produce another Primera Division title out of the hat.
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