WE'RE DEAD YET

Tonight Barca were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid for the second time in three years. One would think that Atletico and Barca's number, but one would be wrong. In fact, Barca had beaten Atletico seven times in a row under the current Barca coach Luis Enrique, including a 2-1 victory in the first leg of this Champions League tie last week.

However, the Catalans were impotent tonight and looked like a shell of their former selves - a team that had not lost a game in 39 straight matches until 2 weeks ago. Indeed, since that streak was ended by Real Madrid, Barca have now lost three matches.

If there is a turning point in this season for Barca, one must look back to that loss to Real Madrid. The game was called "meaningless" because win or lose Barca would still have a large lead in the league standings. Barca went up in the second half in that match but could not see the game out. They conceded to uncharacteristic goals due to defensive lapses and intensity lapses. Since then, their spirits have looked very shaky, and their focus seems to have gone missing.

Tonight, the best team one, and it pains me to say that that team was not Barca. Are we witnessing an end of an era? It sure feels like it when players of Barca's quality seem incapable of mounting a comeback that in any other year would have seemed inevitable. The legs looked heavy. The faces were drawn. The confidence was shattered.

However, rather than lamenting this team's passing, let us also thank them for the beautiful soccer they have played these past six years. There have been so many amazing moments of quality from this team during that period - more than most clubs experience in their entire history. It has not only been what Barca has won, but how they have won it - with style, with attacking flair, with precision. The absence of all those attributes tonight sits in contrast to the glorious moments of the past six years.

So tonight, let us raise a glass to these men, even as we shed a few tears into that glass once we bring it down to take a bitter sip. The Champions League is gone, and we may give up the League and Cup in the weeks to come. No matter what, I love this team like it is a member of my family. Thank you Barca for the moments and memories that I will always treasure. Few things in life have brought me as much joy, and all great things must come to end at some point. If we are at that point, we will look back fondly, and I can confidently say we will NEVER see a team like this again.

Visca Barca!