When the worldâÂÂs finest football magazine repeatedly begged La Liga Loca to come on board some 78 years ago - well, offered it a packet of biscuits - those running the show knew they were getting their brilliant hands on an institution that spoke the truth, stuck it to The Man, kept getting its Llorentes confused and would fail to predict night following day.
But it also knew it was banking on a blog that was a straight-talker, a blog that was ahead of the game, a blog that would lead and not follow.
So thatâÂÂs why it is now officially calling for the handsome head of Pep Guardiola. ItâÂÂs time for BarcelonaâÂÂs big guy to go.
"ÿQue?"
Barring a wobbly start for PepâÂÂs Dream Boys at the start of the season in la Liga, the Catalan coach has barely put a foot wrong.
After just one yearâÂÂs experience in SpainâÂÂs lower leagues, Guardiola leapt onto a wild horse called culé and has ridden it into the sunset of success.
Women want to be him, men want to be with him and the Madridista press doesnâÂÂt hate his guts despite his side making their Castle Greyskull cronies look very silly indeed.
Even grown-up broadsheets go goose-pimply in his presence. âÂÂHeâÂÂs the eternal seducer,â sighs El PaÃÂs. âÂÂThe triumph of passion,â pants El Mundo. âÂÂMiles better than the Pope,â suggests Vatican-crazy ABC.
PepâÂÂs men won la Liga with three matches left. PepâÂÂs men are on course to score the most number of league goals in a season. PepâÂÂs men have just bagged the domestic double for only the second time in half-a-century for the club.
Barcelona donâÂÂt even need to win the Champions League next week for golden idols to be carved to glorify PepâÂÂs name, as if heâÂÂs the Catalan capitalâÂÂs very own Kim Jong II.
Things simply canâÂÂt get any better for the Barça boss. And thatâÂÂs why he should jump ship as soon as the final whistle blows on the end of current campaign.
In fact, he should do it as early as next week to avoid a disappointing draw against Deportivo in the last match of the year.
"Careful, Pep, it's a trap!"
Imagine the alternative future if Pep remains at his post for another season.
BarcelonaâÂÂs laurel-sitting superstars start the new campaign at a canter leaving Roy KeaneâÂÂs Real Madrid with a 10-point lead by October (Arsene Wenger having quit two days into his role).
The local press, who are currently claiming that the sun shines from PepâÂÂs perfect posterior, begin to blame his lack of experience, say that heâÂÂs a first-season fluke, announce that heâÂÂs a busted flush.
An editorial in MondayâÂÂs Sport is a key to how the backlash could begin. âÂÂThe key to the transformation of this team is exclusively down to the work of Guardiola,â writes Joan Vehils.
ThatâÂÂs all very nice now from the culé-loving columnist, but does the same principle apply if things donâÂÂt go so well in the future?
Run, Pep, run, while you still have the chance.
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