Fifa Club World Cup: Barcelona not an impossible task for River Plate

By Cesar Luis Menotti It is thought by many that Barcelona and River Plate will meet in the final of the Club World Cup but what must be taken into account is the responsibility they both bear in their respective semifinals. I do not think Barcelona can lose to Guangzhou Evergrande, but River could have a harder task against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Everybody is taking for granted that River will win their semi-final against the Japanese due to the superiority of Argentine football. But games can be more than complex in 90 minutes. So as well as the possibility of winning convincingly, River could also just as easily run into problems. [caption id=“attachment_2547814” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Argentina’s former head coach Cesar Luis Menotti in a file photo. AFP[/caption] River is a team that is accompanied by uncertainty. There were times when the club seemed to have found an idea and a way of playing close to their own traditions. But for quite some time now they have not been finding the answers and the team doesn’t at present look like one able to generate great expectations at any given time. However, keep in mind that River is approaching their game with a lot more enthusiasm than Barcelona. The team came to Japan in plenty of time and certainly has more physical reserves. In addition, the Argentine footballers are a competitive race. For Barcelona it is not the same, and I say this with all due respect, playing against River Plate is not the same as playing against Seville: The Argentinian players will play with a lot of conviction and enthusiasm and will give Barcelona a tough game, assuming both reach the final. Barcelona is a team which has also not been playing at the sort of level they have in the past, making things possible for River. This Barcelona is not the Barcelona of Pep Guardiola. Sometimes I think there are two Barcelonas: One is that famous Barcelona which won everything and found a way to operate a system which brought forward players like Iniesta, Messi and Busquets. This team could slow the game down at will and then break forward, according to the demands of the game. But when things are not going right, then the other Barcelona does not show the same strength of conviction as the aforementioned Barcelona – as was shown the other day when they drew 2:2 against Deportivo when they could have won 4:0. This latter Barcelona is hurried, impatient to go forward. They give me the impression that Luis Enrique also gets infected at times, impatiently looking for the game he is used to a s a player. But this is when Barcelona starts to come apart and ceases to be that group of players which at times appeared unbeatable. [caption id=“attachment_2514754” align=“alignright” width=“380”] Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. Getty Images[/caption] I think River, in a hypothetical final, cannot just bet on defending from the back against Barcelona. Messi stated that coming forward to attack Barcelona is the worst thing you can do and I also do not think that is the way. If River group up at the back and then lose the ball - something I don’t think they will do - they will have no chance at all. Barcelona will walk it. However if the Argentinians are able to shrink spaces in three-quarters of the pitch and not just boot long passes to Alario, then they could complicate things for Barcelona. Barcelona still have to play a game against Scolari’s Guangzhou. China, as in other fields, has been growing apace in football and is keen to face Barcelona. My impression is that the Chinese team is not just there to compete against the Catalans. But if your team is not awake and organized then you can have problems. Felipao (big Felipe) is going to send his team out to play so as not to lose and put their money on a scoring with a rapid counter-attack from one or two of his quicker players up front, like Robinho. But if Barcelona gets a quick goal, then the game could turn out to be a festival. Here I would also like to spare a few words about the performance of America de Mexico and their elimination from the tournament against Guangzhou. I believe they were unlucky, but they also were not as aggressive as a team needs to be in a game like that against the Chinese. They thought themselves too comfortable and this is something that happens sometimes to Mexican players. Ignacio Ambriz is a good coach, whom I have trained as a player at times in the past. But these setbacks have a considerable effect on Mexican fans. They still have a long way to go. Courtesy: DPA Global Media Service