The decisive phase of the 2014-15 season is approaching and it seems increasingly clear that the starting line up of Luis Enrique is becoming defined. The good performances of the team chosen by the Blaugrana coach against Atletico Madrid (3-1 win) and Deportivo de la Coruna (0-4) suggests that he has found the key, as was demanded of him.
Does this mean that the rotations have stopped at the 11th hour? Can this team reach June with a chance to win titles and, more importantly, conquer? Let's have a look at the last Barcelona coaches who managed their squads in the league with success.
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JOHAN CRUYFF: In his best season at the helm of Barcelona, in '92, Barcelona won their first ever European Cup in a historic Wembley final, against Sampadoria. The creator of the "Dream Team" never had a defined first XI - instead a group of players that frequently featured. In total, 19 players were used, 16 of whom played half or more of the league games (19). The starting line up at Wembley was: Zubizarreta; Ferrer, Koeman, Nando, Eusebio, Guardiola, Juan Carlos Bakero; Salinas, Laudrup and Stoichkov.
LOUIS VAN GAAL: His triumphant campaign at hte club was 1997-98, adding three titles, with la Liga, the Copa and the European Super Cup. Van Gaal used 27 players, 15 of whom played on a regular basis.
FRANK RIJKAARD: In the 2005-06 season he used 30 players, 17 or more of them in half of the games as part of the starting line up. The result was a second consecutive league title, plus the second Champions League won by the club, in Paris against Arsenal (2-1).
PEP GUARDIOLA: The coach of Barcelona's golden age and most successful ever campaign, 2008-09, picked up the Liga, Copa and the Champions League, as well as the Super Copa and the World Club Cup subsequently. He played with 29 players, 17 of them regular starters.
TITO VILANOVA: The late Barcelona coach started off in charge of the team which won the league at a record canter, in 2012-13. His illness meant he was out for several months, with Jordi Roura replacing him. They used 25 players, 18 of them with frequency.
And now... LUIS ENRIQUE: So far he has used 22 players, 17 of them regularly. Despite the rotations we started off with, his first choice side is becoming clearer.