One of Europes most well known, and highly respected football clubs has been nothing short of a zoo in the past few months. The team has been faced with multiple injuries, numerous office changes and a new coaching change as well. After firing Ernesto Valverde Barcelona decided to hire Quique Setién. In the past few months when I have sat down and watched an entire game, it leaves me asking the question “what is happening?”. Lack of aggression, the team chemistry is all over the place, we’re not taking advantage of scoring opportunities, were letting teams walk all over us on the defensive side. Its just not good soccer. Which is a sentence I never thought I would use when describing Barcelona. A team that is known for its quick, crisp passes. It’s beautiful, flashy plays. And variety of amazing goals. Now it seems like all fans and supporters of teams can do is just hope and pray that we somehow can score a goal. Which is hard to believe with all of the talent that is on the roster. Big names known for making big plays. Although players like Luis Suarez and Osumane Dembele are out with injury. Those are two big hits to the team. Dembele who can use either foot to score goals, is a dynamic winger who really doesn’t have much weakness in his play. Right now hie biggest weakness is that he cant stay healthy.
Which is a darn shame. The kid is so talented, and also extremely young. He’s 22 and when healthy plays very well. Luis Suarez, who is arguably a top 5 striker, has fallen with an injury as well and wont be back to playing for Barca for 5 months. Although he can be a bit inconsistent at times, he is still very crucial to the attack play of Barcelona. With two big players out with injury, that for sure hurts the team a little. But there is still plenty of talent on the team. Like Antoine Griezmann a very versatile forward, Frankie De Jong an extremely young but very talented midfielder, and a very underrated Sergio Busquets. Plenty of talent and great players, but theres just one more who I haven’t mentioned. He’s arguably the best soccer player in the world, maybe ever the greatest of all time. His name is
Lionel Messi
One of the worlds most recognized athletes. Many soccer players acknowledge that Messi is perhaps the greatest talent to ever have kicked a soccer ball. His ability to score goals from anywhere, the quick pace, the dribbling, the ball control, the spectacular goals, vision and passing ability, and amazing free kicks. Messi is in a class of his own. But the recent play of he and his team say otherwise. He has been anything but his usual self. There have even been rumors that after his contract is up, he might leave the club. I’m not sure if the rumors are true or not, its hard to tell. I feel like if the team continues to under preform and lose key games en route to more trophies, he could leave. The team has already been knocked out of the Copa Del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, and are in second place in terms of the La Liga league table. There’s not a whole lot of silverware left to attain. Coming up is the group stage of the Champions league, Europes best of the best all coming together to battle out for the Champions League trophy. A trophy that has been far from Lionel Messi for years now.
Can Barcelona overcome the head office drama and team injuries to string together key wins?
Can Lionel Messi elevate his play, and the play of his teammates in order to become the champions of Europe once again?
Can Messi give Barcelona, the fans and supporters, another chapter of Messi Magic?
I guess we shall soon find out..
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