This time around, that young core is Gavi (17), Pedri (19), Ferran Torres (22), Frenkie de Jong (24), Araujo (23), Ansu Fati (19), Ousmane Dembele (24), and the experience comes from Pique (35), Dani Alves (38), Jordi Alba (33), Sergio Busquets (33), Aubameyang (32), Sergi Roberto (30), and ter Stegen (29).
You have a coach who is an ex-player and captain of the club in Xavi, just like Pep Guardiola in 2008. Both had already proven themselves as managers before taking the job, Xavi with Al Sadd in Qatar and Guardiola with Barcelona B.
And you could even point to the exit of a club legend opening the door for a new manager and the young players to grow into their own. Ronaldinho left in the summer Guardiola took over, and Messi left a few months before Xavi's appointment.
There are a lot of other variables to consider, but at the very least, yesterday's performance shows Xavi is building something special with this young group.
Even if it is not next year like my prediction states, I can confidently say this Barcelona team under Xavi will win a treble one day.