The sun’s shining in Barca & revealing what this team could be

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Big games week for Barcelona will test the power of positive thinking 

Beware of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

When you say over and over again that you aren’t good enough, that’s exactly what you’ll be.

For Barcelona fans, the defeatist attitude has been one of the biggest frustrations with manager Ronald Koeman.

Perhaps it was fitting then that the Dutchman wasn’t on the touchline as his men made one of their most inspired performances in a long time, dominating Levante from start to finish.

In the end, the headlines will understandably focus on Ansu Fati and his fairytale comeback story.

Indeed, he’s back, and by the looks of it, maybe even better than ever.

Does this vindicate what Koeman has been saying all along? That we need to be patient and wait for the top players to return?

No. Ansu may have stolen the show, but it was still just a cameo performance. This victory was a collective triumph with every player pulling in the same direction.

Everyone did their job, but the catalysts were the youngest players on the field.

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With Sergi Roberto unavailable at the last minute, Barcelona inserted 19-year-old Nico Gonzalez into the midfield to play alongside 17-year-old Gavi, who later on was joined by 22-year-old Riqui Puig, who soon will have to make room for 18-year-old Pedri.

They were fantastic. Eager to prove their value and ability to help win a game, and did so by commanding the midfield with 71% possession, and unleashing the attack to 12 shots on target.

Sergino Dest, Oscar Mingueza, and Eric Garcia were also outstanding on both ends of the ball. Dest in particular is showing forward thinking and becoming one of the top danger men, attacking with confidence and to great effect on both the left and right equally.

And how fitting that it was Ronald Araujo to raise Ansu Fati ten feet in the air to celebrate his goal properly for the magic it was.

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In that moment, the clouds had parted, and the potential of this team was illuminated.

There can be joy and success if Barcelona sees itself in a positive light again.

There is a future at this club because it continues to have one of the strongest academies in the world.

We know there is a future this season when we see players willing to fight hard for their fans and for each other.

Ansu is back, and will score goals.

Memphis Depay continues to be the man on a mission determined to prove he is one of the best players in the world that can make it at the biggest club.

Soon, they will have Ousmane Dembele rounding off the attack, and what a storm the three attackers could generate.

But above all else, there is a lesson for Ronald Koeman and president Joan Laporta.

No more fighting. No more negativity. Positive thinking works.

That should be a standard everyone at the club is held to.

Give the players credit for reminding us of that on Sunday.

Will the positive vibrations last?

It’s about to be tested in a big way.

The challenges must be taken on with confidence, courage, and belief.

Benfica is undefeated domestically, and Atletico Madrid are the reigning champions.

But they are not Barcelona.

Time to make sure they understand that, and to see if Koeman and his players finally believe it too.

Time to enjoy the beautiful game in Barcelona again.

Keep the momentum going.

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