Alright, Christmas is a time for gifts, but maybe Joan Laporta has gone overboard with the presents for those who want his head. The saying "not even water for the enemy" doesn't apply to the current president of FC Barcelona, who, with situations bordering on the ridiculous, has handed the opposition the more than likely presentation of a motion of no confidence on a silver platter. Víctor Font, Jordi Farré, and company were rubbing their hands with each passing minute during the afternoon of December 31, as the registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor for the second half of the season became more complicated. I won't even mention when, shortly after, the basketball section, which isn't exactly in its best moment, was hit by another scandal like the last-minute failed transfer of Thomas Heurtel.
Both situations have been a source of embarrassment, and rightly so, for the Barça fan, who hasn't been able to boast about their Barcelona pride for far too long. I'm not only referring to Laporta's second term; the issue goes back much further with the management of those who left a bankrupt club as their legacy. Because they haven't reigned in Europe for 10 years now. Because the league won two seasons ago was achieved after not surpassing the group stage in the Champions League. And because the other two leagues won more or less recently, those achieved in the 2017/18 and 2018/2019 campaigns, came after two disgraceful nights in Rome and Liverpool, which to this day still haunt the existence of the Barça fan in the form of nightmares.
In the midst of the crossfire that's coming, like in any civil war that might come to mind, the most affected will be those who are least to blame. The players will see the bullets fly by, still obliged to keep doing their job, theoretically unaware that Barcelona pride might split in two. Flick and his team secured a solid victory in Barbastro, making it clear that the turbulent situation they're experiencing hasn't affected them in sports, at least for now, but this is a long road, and the waters, far from calming down, seem to be about to get more turbulent than ever. Precisely what a young team, in the midst of construction and with a coach who's only been in charge for 5 months, needs the least.
Let no one forget that Laporta is dealing with a big mess. His management has left much to be desired in different aspects, but given the dire situation left after COVID, keeping the ship afloat was quite a challenge. Before the embarrassment with the Olmo/Víctor and Heurtel issues, it could be said that the Barça brand was on the rise again. However, it's evident that there are mistakes that can never be justified, especially those that tarnish the club's image, damaging what is FC Barcelona's greatest asset; the pride of its fans and members.
Honestly, I find it very difficult for the motion of no confidence to succeed. To balance the scales between mistakes and successes, Laporta has returned the team to the 1/1 rule, to be able to sign players normally. He launched the new Camp Nou project and is counting down the weeks for the Barça fan to return to what is their home. And for now, he keeps the team alive in the three major competitions, with Flick and young talents like Lamine Yamal as the main attractions. We'll see what happens, but what's clear is that Barça's president has been playing with fire in recent days and could end up getting burned. Jan, just the right amount of gifts to the opposition.