#2 No “Greatest team in football history” – perhaps no Pep Guardiola either
As good as Xavi and Iniesta undoubtedly were, in the absence of Messi, Barcelona simply wouldn't be the same – the 2008-12 era of collecting trophies for fun would remain a Barca fan's daydream.
Instead, Ibrahimovic might have established himself at Barcelona with no rival to challenge his position, and while he is no cheap replacement, he is no Lionel Messi either. This would mean that the era of 2008-12 would have witnessed a more equitable distribution of success between Barcelona and Real.
In spite of his undoubted quality as a manager, it is quite clear that the indomitable team Guardiola built in Catalonia has played a huge role in shaping his reputation. Therefore, it remains a serious question whether he would be hand picking the biggest jobs around the world in 2016, had it not been for the class of 2008-12.
His undoubted managerial talent would have eventually shown through, of course – but Guardiola would have found the path to fame and fortune much more difficult.
