Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu predicts the club’s current cycle of success can last ‘years’ as he reflects on 2015.
Bartomeu was speaking after he was recognised for his part in a five-trophy-winning 12 months at the Globe Soccer awards, and was asked by Mundo Deportivo to pick out some key moments in the year.
“Barca-Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou, which was the game that initiated the change of changes. I said: ‘We’ll win the League,’” he noted.
“It was a moment of curiosity that it was also against Atletico, at Vicente Calderon, when we won the League.
“In the Copa del Rey I have no doubts about Lionel Messi’s goal [in the final against Athletic Bilbao]. Not only because it was spectacular but because it’s the goal of a genius.
“It’s harder to pick a single moment in the Champions League. Maybe I’ll go with that we were able to beat all champions of their respective Leagues.
“Starting with the Cypriot champions, then Ajax, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and ending with Juventus.
“We played the toughest rivals but I think this difficulty ended up being good and we deservedly won the Champions League.”
Barca won five out of the six trophies for which they competed – losing only the Supercopa de Espana, to Athletic – and Bartomeu doesn’t expect the success to stop there.
“Winning five out of six means we are back to being the best team in the world and we want to continue. We’re at a point and we want to go on,” he said.
“This team is new, built in 2014, and with players who have already managed to make a very competitive and winning block. We face a cycle of winning that can go on for years.
“Now Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan are incorporated, there will be even more competition in the group and that will benefit Barca.”
