Can Barcelona Finish Top 4?

The million-dollar question. Barcelona is in a tough spot, with a billion-pound debt hanging over their head that is surely not on top of Joan Laporta’s priority list. FC Barcelona has been known to put on a display of some of the most beautiful football ever but it has been tough living up to that name recently. They have their moments but who can say when we will be able to see THAT Barça again, honestly not in the foreseeable future and for sure not this season. This team put up by Xavi by Barça standards is pure mediocrity, but the true question is, are they good enough to qualify for the top 4?

Barça had an interesting transfer window. They have for sure had a very weird plan diving into the January transfer window. Xavi asked for a bunch of players in different positions which he was unable to get except one, Adama Traore. Traore has been a beast for Barça in his matches. He put some stellar performances in LaLiga for Barça in his first two games as a starter and bagged himself an assist in both of them. He brings the factor that Barça needed desperately - strength and speed. He can be the key piece for their return to the top 4. Another peculiar addition to the squad was Aubameyang, everyone thought the guy had put his best playing days behind him but he just got himself a hat trick against Valencia. It is remarkable how he played today and as a Barça fan, I just really hope he does well in these 6 months so we can really see the Aubama-Blood-Clat-Yang we all know and love once again.

While not technically a winter signing, Ferran Torres has got to be their marquee signing of the window. He has had his moments this season for sure, I mean a total of 4 G/A in 7 appearances is not bad. He did turn in a horrendous performance against Napoli but that doesn't mean that will happen every game. He missed a few chances here and there but he also created them. I truly believe in him and if Haaland really signs, there is a big chance these men will be bossing Europe pretty soon. The addition of Torres means that Depay’s playing time will be reduced. Depay is just a mid-player this entire season. It is almost like he is trying to be like Messi, beating defenders by dribbles, just going all out and flamboyant but he just seems to score from open and good chances. Some of this has caused the team some very very important games. In my opinion, it's best to sell him next season and just keep playing Torres up front regardless of Depay’s performance.

'Dembouz' and Barcelona are always in some or the other kind of news, but now it has become serious as the Barça board made it clear they want him to stay and sign a renewal which is financially feasible but they couldn't meet an agreement with his agent. Then, they tried to sell him to every team, but nothing came to fruition. This understandably triggered a lot of Barça fans, but Xavi made it clear he would play him if he is available. Since his return from injury, Dembele has performed better. He has created some chances but is still not up to the mark and his performances in the future will be overshadowed by Traore, causing him to come off the bench more frequently. In my opinion, this will do him a world of good, acting as an incentive for him to prove his worth.

This new squad depth has given the Barça players a chance to redeem themselves in front of their fans. New blood has always helped Barça. There is a positive vibe at the Nou Camp. Momentum is on their side. It will go down to the wire. What seemed unlikely at the time of Ronald Koeman's sacking, a top 4 finish, a UCL spot, seems a genuine possibility now. A strong one at that. I tip them to pull it off. This is Xavi’s chance to show that he is a quality manager and he can work with any player, not only superstars. We will just have to wait to see what FC Barcelona has under their sleeve.