Luis Enrique's Barcelona 2.0

If one were to look back at the last decade of football, Barcelona would emerge as the best club on the planet; four Champions League, seven La Liga and three Copa Del Rey titles are testament to that. (Barcelona win fifth Champions League title)

But all the glitter emanating from the trophy cabinet at Nou Camp can't hide one fact: 2013-14 was the worst season for the Catalan giants in their recent history.

The Blaugrana failed to win a single piece of silverware, despite Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Mascherano, Pique et al. wearing the blue and maroon stripes. (FC Barcelona: The Giants Rule Again)

The season ended with coach Tata Martino, brought to Barcelona on the insistence of Lionel Messi, bidding farewell to the club after only a year in charge.

Enter Luis Enrique.

The first half of the season was a forgettable one for the former Barcelona player: he tasted defeat in the first El Clasico of the season, saw his staunchest supporter and the man who brought him to Barcelona- sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta sacked, and oversaw the slide to third in the La Liga table- uncharted territory for the 23 time winners. What made matters worse was the fact that arch rivals Real Madrid were on a 22 games winning streak.

Football pundits blamed Enrique's inconsistency in picking the playing XI as the prime reason for Barcelona's slump. Hell, even Lionel Messi was benched (a cardinal sin for which even the much revered Pep Guardiola wasn't forgiven by the Nou Camp faithfuls).

But therein lay the genius of Luis Enrique.

Is it possible that the rotation of his playing XI wasn't by chance, but by design? Benching Messi, Neymar, Alves and Pique not a mistake, but a plan?

Who would understand the art of conserving one's energy for the latter stages of a race better than a marathon runner? Post his retirement from professional football that is what Luis Enrique did- run marathons around the world.

To see top clubs struggling at the end of a ten month long season isn't uncommon in professional football. In fact, Barcelona's last season serves as a great example; one which saw Tata Martino become the first Barca coach not to lose in his first 16 games, only to lose his job at the end of a trophy-less season.

It isn't how well you start, but how well you finish that determines how many trophies you get your hands on at the end of the season, much like a marathon. Perhaps, Enrique understood this better than anyone else. Unsurprisingly, a well rested Barcelona won 31 out of its last 35 games in the treble winning 2014-15 season; 31 most crucial games of the season.

But to believe that a selection policy that focused on games post the Christmas break was Enrique's blueprint for success would be foolhardy.

Under Guardiola Barcelona took world football by storm with its tiki-taka brand of football. The emphasis was on keeping possession, defending high up the opponent's half, stringing together a set of short and neat passes that would eventually land up in goal. Simple, yet brutally effective. Only, with time, opposition teams found its antidote: they would allow Barca to keep possession, choosing not to waste their energies chasing the ball; instead, concentrate on defence by keeping a good shape and form. Frustrated, at not finding the elusive goal the Catalans would invariable push numbers in front, only for the opponents to score through a counter attack. Circa 2012-Chelsea-Champions League & 2014-Real Madrid-Copa Del Rey. Increasingly, the Blaugrana were being found out by teams refusing to play their style of 'open football'. If plan-A failed, there was no plan-B.

Enrique brought with him plan-B. Soon, a possession hungry side added 'counter-attack' to its armoury. Atletico Madrid tasted Barca's lighting quick counter offensive in the Copa Del Rey, whilst Madrid experienced it in the La Liga, prompting coach Carlo Ancelotti to say this after the 2-1 loss, "We were the better team for an hour but Barca's counter-attacks in the final half an hour were devastating"  

Roles had been reversed.

Of course the change in personnel proved conducive to Enrique's plans. With Messi's penchant of playing as the false 9, Barcelona needed a couple of out and out strikers to execute the perfect counter move. Neymar was already there; Suarez, the new addition, served as an ideal foil.

The arrival of Ivan Rakitic too fitted in well with Enrique's scheme of things. The Croatian midfielder provided variety in the midfield, which up until now, had a sameness to it: Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets choosing to build the attack from the midfield rather than play the long ball. Rakitic's attacking instincts and his quick bursts suited the idea of a counter-attack.

Resultantly, Barcelona beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League; in a game where the Bavarians enjoyed more ball possession that the tiki-taka kings.

While Messi and co. are being recognised as the actors that delivered a phenomenal performance on the football pitch this season, Enrique merits the tag of the script-writer, producer and director all rolled into one.

In just his first season at the club he's had a huge impact on the way Barcelona play, and have played their football.

If Johan Cruyff invented it, Guardiola perfected it, Luis Enrique has re-invented the 'Barca Way'.