Win back

Winning is one thing, playing well is another. They can combine the two. They usually do. But not always. Most Barça fans want to win by playing well. In that order, even though they've tried to move up the pecking order at certain stages. The Blaugrana problem is that to win, they usually have to play very well, and they've done so for many years. Winners are the ones who define eras in the sport.

The theory that Brazil in 1982 was better than Italy in the popular memory at the World Cup in Spain isn't true. The Brazilian national team thrilled at Sarrià, but above all, they thrilled with an unwavering, festive fan base and attacking play, but with a team without a goalkeeper or center forward, even though there were velvet-footed players like Falcao, Zico, and Socrates on the field. The Italians had the best goalkeeper of the World Cup, Zoff, and the best number nine, Rossi. And they rightfully won the title with a great team. But a romantic narrative was established that was as easy to buy as it was untrue. The same thing was also done with the Holland of Michels and Cruyff, who lost the 1974 World Cup to the Germany of Beckenbauer and Muller. The Germans were a better team but had a worse narrative.

The women's team has suffered from champion syndrome, both at Barça and with the Spanish national team.

The great Netherlands was founded on the sensational Ajax of Cruyff and Michels in the early 1970s, when they won three consecutive European Cups. Kluivert and Van Gaal would later achieve another in 1994. And Koeman would win the European Championship in 1988. They established a spectacular model of total football and defined an era with Ajax, which won the triple crown. Messi's Barça won four Champions League titles and also marked an era, although it could have been more. They lost two under Guardiola (against Chelsea and Porto) and another two under Valverde (against Roma and Liverpool). They deserved to win all four. They were the best team. As Barça has been against Arsenal in the Women's Champions League this season and as the Spanish team demonstrated against England in the European Championship final. Arsenal has more women's Champions League titles than men's, and English players have more European Championship titles than men's.

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But Barça and the national team are marking an era in women's football. Yes. Even if they lose . Because the Blaugrana have already won three Champions League titles, and the national team has won a World Cup and a Nations League. That's how eras are marked. And you can't always win everything in today's football. The game without titles is beautiful and romantic. With trophies, it's simply historic. The key was once said by the extraordinary FC Barcelona handball coach Valero Rivera: "The most difficult thing in sport is to win again."