FC Barcelona league debut figures in New York Times

Barça’s good start to the 2014/15 league season was the highlight of the NYT‘s football coverage on Tuesday, with correspondent Rob Hughes in his  weekly Global Soccer column full of praise for the team’s performance against Elche and the positive effects of the Club’s summer signings off and on the pitch.

In Tuesday’s edition of the International New York Times, Hughes reckons the Club have shrugged off the difficulties of the last few months under the guidance of Bartomeu, the board and Andoni Zubizarreta, to launch: “its most comprehensive rebuilding phase in a decade”, centred on Leo Messi, who Hughes believes: “is not simply dancing with the ball as only he can but demonstrably enjoying the game again”.

Praise for Munir and Rakitic

Hughes also commented the appearance on the scene of Munir, who: “stepped into the senior team as if were born to do it, as well as the impact of new coach Luis Enrique, who: “is looking for sterner stuff to blend with the artistry” and new signings such as Ratikic: “more of an enforcer, a gifted one, in midfield”

All the changes, according to Hughes, confirm that : “on the evidence of Sunday, passing and moving are the essence of the team. They are the hallmark made in La Masia”.