There was a time in the not too distant past where certain ‘experts’ were scathing of Barcelona’s decision to make Philippe Coutinho their most expensive signing.
‘He’s not worth it’ they said. ‘Good, but not great.’
After a wonderful cameo at the Anoeta, where the Catalans came from behind for the second successive season at their bogey ground, putting the ‘curse’ firmly to bed, those same experts are being made to eat their words.
The Brazilian changed the entire dynamic of this match, with Barca a goal down at the break and looking like they were heading for yet another defeat in San Sebastian.
Within minutes of Coutinho’s introduction, there was much more zip and verve about Barcelona’s play.
For the first time in the game Real Sociedad were pegged back, and with the visitors on the front foot it was only a matter of time before they were back on level terms.
Barca’s goals, when they arrived, were products of confusion in the home defence, and though it would need Marc-Andre ter Stegen to get Ernesto Valverde’s side out of a hole on more than one occasion thereafter, on balance of play the result was probably the correct one.
Valverde has come in for some criticism recently, mainly with regards to a lack of rotation. Indeed, Luis Suarez had indirectly laid the blame for last season’s Champions League collapse against Roma at the managers door.
The Uruguayan had suggested he should’ve played no part in the Leganes league game three days beforehand, but Valverde really is damned if he doesn’t and damned if he does.
Saturday proved that, with social media awash with critique because Coutinho had been left on the bench and Arthur wasn’t even in the squad.
It had conveniently escaped those venting their ire that both Brazilians were the last players back from international duty, and ideally needed to rest with PSV Eindhoven to come in midweek.
Fortunately for all concerned at Barca, a vital victory has glossed over any perceived issue, though it’s hard to understand what Valverde did wrong.
He, more than anyone, will have known what awaited his side before the match, and at the ‘new’ Anoeta, where the stands are much closer to the pitch than they ever were before, the atmosphere was red hot, making a positive result more difficult to achieve.
The coach deserves great credit in making the substitutions that altered the course of the game, and Coutinho can take the plaudits for being the spark that ignited Barca’s flame.
It’s games like this where championships are won and lost.
