Those were terrible times indeed but it was beautiful to be reminded of what Pep and Xavi (and Puyi!) mean to Barça especially for that, for not giving up. For staying, for believing, for giving everything everytime.
So very well written and so bittersweet, thanks so much for sharing.
In these relatively calm times it's easy to forget what came before. (I know it always gives me pause in my doom and gloom complaining when I read up on the bad times of the past. *g*) Part of what I wanted to do here was to illustrate that the successes of today owe a lot to the groundwork done during more difficult times.
Damn. This is astounding, seriously. What an incredible look at Pep and Xavi and Barcelona, and as someone who's never known much about the club's politics, this is a really great introduction into that dark history. (I just--they really said Pep had HIV. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK.)
Thank you so much! Every club has their own internal difficulties, but I think in terms of self-sabotage it's hard to get worse than Barca politics, especially during the 90s. Part of the reason Pep does so well now is that he can play the political game like no one else due to years of bitter experience. I get pissed off every time I remember the crap he used to get. *g*
you've just made me relive my entire "career" as a Barca fan, starting from the dark days of Sera Ferrer upwards. reading this fic turned out to be an emotional roller-coaster for me and what an incredible journey!! with downs so low - that you captured so freaking well - and ups so high, that you get nauseous from looking down, i think this fic can go down as the best recount of Barca history ever.
negl, the line about Xavi scoring the Winner at Bernabeu in 2004 made me cry, i don't even know why. for the longest time, that was my fav clasico, so probably because of that. i welled up when you mentioned Patrick, oh my lord, this was perfect.
beautiful all over, effortless writing and all your characters are drawn up so realistic. also, love your dislike of Van Gaal ahah, it shines through :DD
God, we've come a long way from 2001, haven't we? Sometimes I forget just how bad things were, and every reminder just makes me more thankful for what we have now.
I remember the 2004 Clasico so well - feeling like I could breathe again after that result, especially after losing at home earlier that season, Victor being amazing, Puyol blocking Carlos' shot with his head...so epic.
With Van Gaal, I tried to be fair to him as a good manager whose personality just didn't fit us, but man he makes it hard. *g*
This was incredibly beautiful. I love how you showed why these people are so important and how much they've change barça for the better. I adored this.
It's almost bizarre how the history of Barca in the last 20 years can be told almost entirely using the personal stories of Pep and Xavi. *g* Thank you very much.
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Those were terrible times indeed but it was beautiful to be reminded of what Pep and Xavi (and Puyi!) mean to Barça especially for that, for not giving up. For staying, for believing, for giving everything everytime.
So very well written and so bittersweet, thanks so much for sharing.
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Thank you very much!
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negl, the line about Xavi scoring the Winner at Bernabeu in 2004 made me cry, i don't even know why. for the longest time, that was my fav clasico, so probably because of that. i welled up when you mentioned Patrick, oh my lord, this was perfect.
beautiful all over, effortless writing and all your characters are drawn up so realistic. also, love your dislike of Van Gaal ahah, it shines through :DD
Reply
I remember the 2004 Clasico so well - feeling like I could breathe again after that result, especially after losing at home earlier that season, Victor being amazing, Puyol blocking Carlos' shot with his head...so epic.
With Van Gaal, I tried to be fair to him as a good manager whose personality just didn't fit us, but man he makes it hard. *g*
Thank you very much.
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