A final that puts Celta’s project at stake

He Celtic I just don’t know play life tonight. It also brings into play centenary and the project. Victory over Barcelona would mean a huge relief and twelve years in the First division, but any other result could condemn the group from Vigo to mark 100 years of history in the Second League and cause an unexpected shake-up in Mourinho’s project, solid in economic terms but riddled with cracks in sport. Not winning will mean relying on other results which, a priorithey don’t look like one a sure trump card.

Celta seemed saved at the end of March, but they arrive at the last game of the season with water up to their throats. They can’t win their last six games to close the gap, with an alarming drop in play and a collection of key players injured or strained. Spend the last bullet against Barcelona, Carlos Carvalhal (whose ending of the performance yesterday sounded like a farewell) will not be able to count on Josip Aidoo, the chief of defense, who is three weeks after the breakthrough in Cádiz; recovers the race Fran Beltran whose physical condition after three interrupted matches is a big unknown and has a limited time of availability Jago Aspas because of his chronic lower back pain. Everything indicates that moañéi will be the main asset off the bench and that the defense is the line that can suffer the most touches, with Renato Tapia centers and Oscar Minguez as a side.

The Catalan will face his Barça, a team that comes with their homework done, but declares their love for fair play after getting carried away in Puceli on his previous trip. The champion has nothing at stake except a (smaller) record Ter Stegen, who is looking for his 27 goals unbeaten run. Lewandonski, with a difference of five goals, already has the top scorer practically secured. Culés travel with victims, but Xavi Hernandez He can form the first eleven and afford to leave three internationals on the bench. How to believe

The big difference for the party must be in the head. The Azulgranas have their suitcases ready to cash in Japan and go on vacation, but before the sky blue is the most important final exam in recent history.

To stop the free fall, the week was anything but normal. Tuesday started with a talk in the locker room to throw out the dirty laundry and close the lines in sight Union. In parallel, the daily performances of the players, the mobilization of Celticism, the sale of free tickets at four o’clock and the opening of the doors of Afouteza started so that the team could feel the warmth of its fans.

The scenes are being added, but this Celta, mute and hermetic on many issues, must now speak on the pitch and the first thing he must do is recover his muscles in both parts. It is of little use to be a neat team with the ball, pressing in the opposite field, if it stops later in the first arrival or cannot hit the last pass or with a shot on the opposite goal. It is clear that this Celta lacks the goals and magic of Aspas and the arrival from the second line. Gabriel Veiga, but tonight is not a celebration of names, but of collectives. The premise is to show Barcelona from the first whistle that it is Celta who are risking their lives. The competition must be a loss of intensity, sacrifice and head, beating Barcelona on impulse alone seems impossible.

Amidst the drama, Carvalhal’s side have two aspects to consider: apart from one season, Celta have always won points against the Catalans in the league (in Camp Nou, despite a great game, came back empty). Also that on this occasion, since everyone involved depends on their own salvation, no one expects the service of third parties. Celta depends on itself, but must win.