Exclusive: Barcelona executives believe team would have won UCL last season with summer arrival's presence | Barca Universal

"As told to Barca Universal exclusively by journalist Adrian Sanchez, there is a growing sense of conviction within Barcelona that last season's UEFA Champions League campaign could have ended very differently. As such, several senior figures within the club believe that, with the same squad and just one targeted addition, namely Joan Garcia, Barça had everything required to lift Europe's biggest prize."

"To their credit, the club brought in Wojciech Szczęsny as a short-term solution. Szczęsny's experience and professionalism were valued, and he provided stability during a difficult period. However, the situation was far from ideal, as he arrived mid-season, had limited time to fully adapt to Barça's style of play, and was stepping into a system that demands exceptional comfort on the ball."

"Executives believe that had Barcelona entered the season with the same squad plus Garcia, fully integrated from the start, the margins that decided the semi-final against Inter might have swung in their favour. The belief is not about blaming individuals, but about recognising how critical continuity and preparation are at the highest level. The feeling inside the club is that Barcelona were not outsiders punching above their weight - they were genuine contenders who fell just short."

There is a conviction within Barcelona that last season's Champions League campaign could have ended differently if Joan Garcia had been in the squad from the start. The club spent most of the season without Marc-Andre ter Stegen due to injury and signed Wojciech Szczęsny as a short-term replacement. Szczęsny brought experience and stability but arrived mid-season, limiting adaptation to Barça's ball-playing demands. Executives argue that adding Garcia early would have ensured continuity, better preparation and possibly swung the semi-final against Inter in Barcelona's favour. The prevailing view is that Barcelona were genuine contenders who narrowly fell short due to marginal differences in preparation and personnel timing.

Read at Barca Universal