Barcelona's New Season Challenges and Identity

Okay, everyone. Now, the last time Barcelona played in this

competition, we were

all pitch-side in Oslo, ba- dazzled by the brilliance of the Spanish

giants as they

thumped Lyon 4-0 in that final. But it's a new season

and a lot of comings and

goings in the off-season. A very different Barcelona side.

So, um, we've seen Ona Batlle, Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, and

Salma Paralluelo departing the club.

They've lost four Champions League winners, four World Cup winners,

players that

have shown up on multiple big stages.

And, and any other team, I think, would find it very difficult to come back

from

that loss. But, Janelly and Jen, you've got them,

you've got them picked to win the

whole thing. Why do you think Barcelona

are gonna win their fifth title

considering they've lost so many key players?

I think... Well, first and foremost, I, I would openly admit, I,

I doubted them last season, um, for similar reasons.

They'd left s- the certain players had, had left, and the financial

difficulties, a s- a small squad. And I think I've...

I, I knew it at the time, right? But even still now, obviously, that,

that doesn't

matter. It doesn't matter who... It does in terms of the iconic

figures like Alexia Putellas and Mapi León in terms of leadership

and iconic figures, and it, it, new, it being a new generation of players

coming

through. But what I've always admired about

Barcelona as a, as a club,

that, okay, you might be watching these players at

their peak, but it stemmed from

months and years of, of players coming through at academy level

and a style and a

philosophy that is ingrained in Barcelona Football Club.

So, no matter who's on the pitch now, who's on the pitch in five, 10 years, or

who's been coming through the ranks now, I think they're one of the few, few clubs,

and I can maybe resemble my time at Man City a little bit about it, of

having that clear technical director that is ingrained in that.

But they're, they're another club, or the number one club for me,

that will just

keep producing, as far as I know anyway, these top, top

talents.

Up to this point.

Up to this point, but I think they will.

You even look at a player like Sara Jordí coming in, who's 18.

Still so young, but starting these huge games we saw last

year.

So I just think the players they produce fit into this style, and then they go out

and buy the best Caroline Graham Hansen in that wide forward position or other

top players from other internationals, and they bring them in.

So it's the style and identity that they know how they,

how they're gonna play.

And you don't think they've lost their identity, do you?

I don't. I completely agree with you.

I think they've lost important players, but they have not lost their identity.