FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.05.2009 23:59

That's the way to celebrate a treble

Roger Bogunyà

This is the story of a celebration. Of the most important celebration in the history of FC Barcelona. The treble celebration when the fans and the players met together for the last time this season in the Camp Nou.

The heroes of Rome appeared after a two-hour celebration during which the fans chanted, sang, enjoyed concerts and watched the highlights of the match on the Camp Nou video screens. The players ignored protocol and ran onto the pitch with the three trophies under their arms. Valdés and Xavi carried the Champions League trophy, Eto’o the League trophy and Henry and Hleb the Cup. The cavalcade through the streets of Barcelona hadn’t tired them out. It was 10.31 pm.

In the dark

Fifteen minutes later, the Camp Nou was plunged into darkness and one by one, in inverse order, the 26 players that travelled to Rome made their appearance. From Muniesa to Valdés. The goalkeeper and Iniesta appeared with the Cup, Xavi and Puyol with the League trophy and Guardiola and Vilanova with the Champions League trophy. It was 11 pm and the sound of Queen’s ‘We are the Champions’ resonated around the ground.

Lap of honour

The champions then made a lap of honour to bring the trophies nearer to the fans, just as they did on Saturday to celebrate the League title and in Valencia and Rome for the Cup and the Champions League. Then it was time for the speeches, prefaced by Guardiola with, “If we make a mess of it I hope you’ll forgive us”.

Insatiable

There was no official master of ceremonies but Gerard Piqué, on of the leaders of the celebrations, did a good job: “No Spanish team has ever done the treble. We’re the first”. Messi was equally enthusiastic: “Do you want the three of them? Here they are. Next year we’ll win them all again”. On the other hand, Abidal kept it simple: “A fantastic season”.

Henry: “I’m a true Barça fan”

One by on e all of the Barça stars had their say. Eto’o got a huge reception, Iniesta got the crowds chanting the name of his hometown and Henry treated the fans to one of the goal celebrations he shares with Eto’o. However, Henry also recognized last season’s mistakes: “We did a bad job last year. Me too. But now I can say I’m a true Barça fan”.

Sylvinho was the last to speak after which Piqué grabbed the mic again and asked for music and for the lights to be put back on. And so it was. There were fireworks and the team did another lap of honour to the sound of Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’. It was 11.46 pm. That’s the way to celebrate a treble.