Though I was concentrated on managing only England, Barcelona F.C. offered me a chance of a lifetime, and though it took me a while to digest it, I decided to go for it and leave England behind. With FM2013 on the way, I think it will be a good way of finalizing this Gump Adventure, managing a giant like Barcelona!
Barcelona is a club that discards presentation, and right now, on December 2019, there are still a few old timers that are still first team players, like Daniel Alves and Andres Iniesta, respectively 37 and 36 years old. There are plenty other experienced players like Valdes, Pique, Messi and Hector Moreno that are part of the squad. Messi is still very good, and Valdez is a good reserve for Szczesny. I do plan to change a few players around as I really believe that Barcelona is not the same of the beginning of the story.
We are currently in the 2019-2020 season, and Barcelona has not won a La Liga since 2015. The same can be said about the Champions League. The last title Barcelona won was in the 2016 season, the Spanish Cup. Since then, they have being trailing Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. I take over Barcelona on early December, with still a lot of the season to be played! We are six points behind Real Madrid, and Morale is really low around the club. I plan to shaken things up with new signings when the transfer window is open again. I think that this will add new air down on Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s finance are great, as expected, and really not much to say. The 385 millions available to spend on transfers shows all the power that Barcelona have.
My first encounters on command of Barça where enough to feel that morale is currently a huge problem. I believe that a couple of victories will do us fine, and indeed it happened after the 5×1 win against Celta. Ok, they are a smaller side, but it was a good way to end the year. 2020 will be a new team! I promise!
We are qualified to play against Man Utd for the Round of 16 on the Champions League. It should be a great fight, and I think there will be enough time to get the newcomers blended in, and morale high again before traveling to England for the first leg.
Nik (9)
