It was only a line but it was revealing nonetheless. 'Those wonderful years when everyone drooled over Barcelona there were lots of players who aren't here any more,' said Jordi Alba last month. 'Those of us who are here now are doing things as best we can. I think the fans are enjoying their team.'
And he was right; the fans are enjoying this team. Not least following that decisive win over Atletico Madrid which establishes a eight-point lead at the top of La Liga. This team is, of course, very good. And not simply because they have Lionel Messi.