"I believe that the image we gave today (Tuesday evening) is the one we want to see all the time."
Just after the clear success in Kiev (0-4), Ronald Koeman wore a smile.
Shy, yes, but real.
And especially rare enough since his arrival last summer at the head of the Catalan club not to be noted.
With four victories in as many matches, including one against Juventus in Turin (0-2), FC Barcelona has already validated its ticket for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
As in its prime.
Except that these turn out to be a long way off and this perfect European course so far acts like a mirage in the desert of a season that has not really taken off at the domestic level.
Martin Braithwaite, the unexpected hero
Only 13th in La Liga, admittedly two games late, the Blaugrana have already lost three times in eight games, including a last setback last weekend on the ground of Atlético Madrid (1-0) in end of a very poor performance on the offensive plan.
Like a Lionel Messi who is only a shadow of himself since his failed start attempt this summer.
Author of only one goal in the game in La Liga, the Argentinian was even put to rest this week in the Champions League and he was not traveling to Kiev, leaving to the unlikely Martin Braithwaite the role of hero of 'one evening with a double registered for his first appearance in the queen of continental competitions.
At 29 years old.
Like what better late than never ...
Messi was not the only one absent in Ukraine as Pique, Busquets and Fati were injured while De Jong, like the Argentinian, was left to rest for the distant trip.
And at kick-off, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé and Jordi Alba had taken their places on the bench, leaving a very rejuvenated Barça team to challenge Dynamo.
A choice that will logically have been slow to pay off, the Catalans and their average age under 25 struggling in the first period to find binding and consistency in their game. But it was enough for a happy goal from the side Dest in the 52nd minute of play to uninhibit the young Barcelona guard, led to the sides by the brilliant and young tandem Pedri (18) -Trincao (20).
Griezmann spared but scorer
Little additional happiness, coming into play for the last half hour, Griezmann scored the first goal of his season in the Champions League on a superb sequence of control of the right-grazing strike from the left which should do him good morale.
Koeman has also justified his choice to make him start on the bench by the "need to make him breathe while he has played almost all matches so far, including in selection".
Now, if this success should be put into perspective because obtained against a Ukrainian formation as limited as it is confusing naivety on the defensive level, it does not prevent that in the minds of some, it was obtained without Messi.
Without the one, therefore, which passes to be the center of the current evils of Barça.
Leaving open this question: even if it is hard to conceive for such a club, shouldn't the Blaugrana club let its star go this winter and start now a phase of reconstruction with young talents who have proven their potential in Kiev?
Read also
Champions League rankings
