Deco Backs Barcelona’s New Era After Latest La Liga Triumph

Sporting director Deco believes Barcelona’s back-to-back La Liga titles are only the beginning for the club’s emerging generation.

Naija News reports that Barcelona wrapped up the Spanish title earlier this month with three games to spare after another dominant campaign under Hansi Flick. Their latest success also came after victories over rivals Real Madrid during the season.

The Catalan side have built around a youthful core from the famed La Masia academy, with talents such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez now central figures in the squad.

Deco believes the club are only scratching the surface.

“We indeed won two La Ligas but these players want to win more, they believe that they can win more,” Deco told BBC Sport.

“That’s why it’s important because if the players believe they can achieve more important things, you see they still want to do something important.

“I believe that this team for me is the beginning of the era, the beginning of the history of this team because they are so young and still want to win something important.”

Barcelona stormed to the title on the back of an 11-match winning run, although their campaign ended in disappointment in Europe after a Champions League quarter-final exit.

Deco also credited Flick for shaping a balanced squad without the need for a major rebuild.

“In the process of guiding Barcelona to their second successive title, Hansi Flick has built a team which means they will not have to go to the market for four to five players,” he said.

Meanwhile, the future of Marcus Rashford remains unresolved after the England forward spent the season on loan from Manchester United.

The 28-year-old hinted recently that he would like to remain in Spain, with Barcelona reportedly able to make the move permanent for around £30m.

Rashford delivered several important moments during the campaign, including a stunning free-kick winner in El Clásico against Real Madrid.

Deco admitted the strike exceeded his expectations.

“We knew he had these kinds of skills, I saw him scoring at United many times, but this goal was unbelievable. It was a fantastic goal,” he said.

Despite not always starting, Rashford finished the league season with eight goals and seven assists in 32 appearances. He also contributed six goals and three assists in 11 Champions League matches.

Deco praised the forward’s attitude throughout the campaign.

“Marcus has helped us a lot because he came on loan, it is not easy to come on loan as a player like him because he is a top player,” he said.

“He helped us a lot because he had the responsibility to replace Raphinha, it is not easy but he did very well.

“Sometimes he [is] on the bench and it’s not easy but he reacted very well and he did everything.

“His season was very good and we are happy he won La Liga with us. He deserves [it], he works a lot and works hard to be here. We are happy with him.”