Barça fell to Jimbee Cartagena in extra time of the semifinal’s second game, resulting in their elimination from the title race. This means the current champions will not defend their crown, ending a three-season league dominance. Consequently, Barça will not participate in the next UEFA Futsal Champions League, marking their second absence from the final in the past nine seasons; their last non-participation was in the 2019-2020 season. This defeat signifies a tough blow, signaling a transitional phase for the team after an abrupt end. After three seasons, Jesús Velasco is departing, having won only the Spanish Cup, to head the National Team at the Spanish Football Federation post-Uzbekistan World Cup. Tino Pérez will replace him.
Tormented Season
Injuries plagued Barça throughout a season marked by a demanding schedule, another challenge for the team. Velasco commented, “I think this has been the hardest season of my entire coaching career. We’ve had a really bad time, we’ve suffered a lot, and yet, we competed in all tournaments. We had chances to win more, but it didn’t go our way.” Key players like Sergio Lozano, Ferrao, Dyego, Alex Yepes, and Sergio González faced injuries, leading to a significant reliance on 25 players, including 11 from the reserve team (Touré, Tapias, Puigvert, Nico, Korokoro, Harrison, Aniol, Cano, Pau López, and Martí) and even a cadet player, Roger. Velasco praised the team, saying, “We have given everything we had. I want to congratulate the group. We believed until the end and showed spirit. The reserve team players performed admirably, and it’s a source of pride to see how they contributed.”
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Velasco stated, “We have to lift our spirits. Next season, Barça will continue fighting for all titles.” Team manager Jordi Torras has been preparing the squad for the 2024-25 season, facing the departures of André Coelho to Benfica and Ferrao to Semey in Kazakhstan. Barça plans to bring in players like Eric Martel and Nakata from Albali Valdepeñas and Khalid Bouzid from Santa Coloma, aiming to revive the Barcelona DNA. Despite attempts to sign Vinicius Rocha (Benfica) and Allan Guilherme (Braga), and Fits (Movistar Inter), the club’s financial situation poses challenges. There’s an ongoing debate at Palau about whether to finalize the squad or make an additional economic effort following the league setback and European absence.
A strategic plan for a major squad overhaul in 2025 is in place, including the arrival of Neguinho (Palma Futsal). However, there’s uncertainty about competing against new futsal powers like Palma or Jimbee Cartagena during this transition season without European competitions. Torras acknowledges that Fits represents a market opportunity, but financial constraints may prevent a star signing. The summer, featuring the World Cup with eight to ten international players, will complicate launching the new Barça project.
