Spanish Football: Barca, for Real

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are that of the author and does not necessarily reflect that of Sportskeeda

I love Football and I have just seen the game being tarnished a little bit more by ‘the best team in the world’.

Barca played PSG tonight and it was touted to be a cracker. 2-2 in the first leg in Paris and all to play for at the Nou Camp. In the first half, Barca, ruffled by PSG’s game, had nowhere to go. Tito Vilanova, on his haunches, clueless, expressionless, no body language whatsoever, was lost and confused. Carlo Ancelotti, making all the right moves, played Verratti in the hole, getting the maximum out of his players.

Cesc Fabregas set up a sad, poignant figure on the pitch. David Villa looks like he is on the wrong ground or playing for the wrong team whenever he steps out in Barca colours. Dani Alves, a spoilt brat, who seems to have forgotten how to play, and god knows when a manager would come who would be bold enough to show him his place. Xavi Hernandez wants to pass the ball, but where to, when there is no Messi? Andres Iniesta, sweet delicate touches and all, but even the brightest boy on the pitch doesn’t like bouncing the ball off a wall, he wants his mate on the pitch. Iniesta wants Messi, not these average players who don’t know what to do with the ball.

For PSG, Ancelotti was bold, brave, with 3 up front in Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura, at the Nou Camp. Verratti, under 21 Italian international, playing like a veteran!

PSG dominates the first half. Barca has no clue. Vilanova wants to send on Messi already.

In the 2^nd half, PSG score. Vilanova still has no clue. He sends on Messi who lifts the other players, lifts the crowd and Barca scores.

Barca can now sit back, which they duly do. Barca holds the ball in its own half, they get a 1-1 draw go through.

The thing is that Barcelona is too dependent on Messi. I am not trying to make a point; I am stating a fact. Madrid are dependent on Ronaldo, but they have Ozil, Benzema and Higuain. They also have a solid back four (at least until one of them is sent off). Look at Bayern, look at United, look at Juventus, look at Dortmund – they are proper football teams.

Now look at Barca, without Messi. Thoughtless, confused, expressionless, sad, bad art.

Look at Mancini, look at Mourinho, look at Ancelotti, look at Ferguson (who, for a change, did something by playing Welbeck against Madrid and keeping Rooney on the bench). Look at Southampton’s new manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Average team, great thought put behind how it will play and look at the results. Look at Jurgen Klopp, Dortmund’s manager. Beautiful. Now look at Vilanova. Thoughtless, with no alternatives than throwing on a not fully match fit Messi.

These are the rumblings of a football lover who is now fed up of listening to people who say that Barcelona FC is the best team in the world. No way. They are not a team. These are also the rumblings of a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, who now admits that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. Ronaldo has had to, and will have to, settle for 2^nd best. But please, stop calling Barca a team; it is a one man show. It is all Messi, with his two best mates, Iniesta and Xavi.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are that of the author and does not necessarily reflect that of Sportskeeda