Cruyffismo Barcelona Opinion of Julio Maldonado

It's impossible to understand the contribution of a footballer without having witnessed him in his time.

Even having seen Johan Cruyff's European Cup games with Ajax, his games with the Netherlands in the 1970s, or those with Barcelona, he can't be completely understood without first-hand viewing.

Just in the same way that millennials will never be able to fully grasp what Diego Maradona meant.

Those who lived through Cruyff as a coach though are in a place to analyse how Quique Setien has recovered Cruyffismo at Barcelona.

A comeback against Dynamo Kiev in the 1993 European Cup is almost unanimously considered as the best game played by Cruyff's Dream Team.

The idea that Cruyff reinvented football as a coach is one that a lot of people talk about, but he did and he didn't.

He liked pressing the ball after losing possession, freeing a player by playing a false nine.

Cruyff's side often closed things up by playing three at the back and based their game on permanent possession, always with width to open things up.

The Dutchman had Ronald Koeman, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mari Bakero at the core of his side, and invented the idea of a forward whose role is to play with his back to the attack.

His side evolved, of course. The team who won the 1989 Cup Winners' Cup against Sampdoria had Salinas as No.9 and Gary Lineker on the wing.

They were without wingers, though they did press and look to control things from midfield.

In the Wembley final three years laters things had shifted and new talent had arrived, Barcelona controlled games more and they had their style.

As much as a coach can make a difference, he needs talent and players who can win him games.

Cruyff had them all over the pitch. From Koeman and Guardiola to Romario and Hristo Stoichkov.

The Dutchman created a lot, but he had good players and improved the rest.

But the key is that Cruyff took risks. He loved taking chances, and that's how his Dream Team changed Spanish football forever.