It is three years today since Barça B won promotion to Division 2B after winning 3rd Division Group V and defeating Castillo and Barbastro in the play offs. It was Pep Guardiola’s first major achievement as a manager.
Barça B v Barbastre, ay 21.15 on Barça TV
On Wednesday evening, Barça TV will be repeating that historic playoff match with Barbastre, in
which promotion to Division 2B was clinched. The broadcast starts at 21.15.
Sunday June 15, 2008, was the day, and the Miniestadi, with 11,000 spectators, was the venue.
Castillo had already been beaten, and in the first leg of the play-off final, Barça had already
done half the job by winning 2-0 away.
No speculation
Barça still wanted to win the match, and went ahead through Víctor Vázquez just
before the break. They ultimately qualified for the higher division without conceding a goal in the
play offs and unbeaten all season at the Miniestadi.
Players take front stage
Once the game was over, the players celebrated the win with several of the coaches,
in front of the fans who had stayed to enjoy the party. But Guardiola refused to have anything to
do with it, and after shaking hands with his Barbastro colleague, he and ‘Tito’
Vilanova withdrew to the dressing room and watched the events unfold on Barça TV. Guardiola wanted
it to be the players that got the credit, and therefore preferred to step out of the limelight.
Three in first team
Of the players involved in that win, three would follow Pep Guardiola into the
first team for the next season. Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Jeffren would all be appearing in the
Camp Nou, where Guardiola was about to take over from Frank Rijkaard. Others like Oier and Víctor
Vázquez have also had first team chances but also remained with new B team boss Luis Enrique.
Others such as Abraham, Gay, Xavi Torres and Córcoles would also make their first division debuts
under Guardiola.
Three wonderful years
After that terrific year at the helm of Barça B, Guardiola, has gone on to win
three Ligas, one Copa del Rey, two Champions Leagues, one Clubs World Cup and two Spanish and one
European Supercup. But he has also gone on to lead a team that has amazed the footballing world
with the same delightful style of play that all started three years ago at the Miniestadi.