5 things Barcelona must do if they lose Lionel Messi

#3 Tweak the system to compensate for Lionel Messi's departure

Lionel Messi is irreplaceable

Lionel Messi is arguably the only player in the world that can never be replaced. The Barcelona legend is the sole source of purpose for his side in the final third and orchestrates every creative move of note in the final third.

The Argentine talisman is the ideal combination of agility, intelligence, and dribbling prowess. Lionel Messi's impact on this Barcelona team cannot be replicated by a single player alone and the Catalan think tank will have to use every ounce of its technical know-how to revive this Barcelona side.

✍ #TrincaoCuler 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/CuMUh4iSj6

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 26, 2020

Barcelona's glory days under Pep Guardiola were heralded by a side that may not have been as invincible as it was without Lionel Messi but could certainly hold its own. The team had a revolutionary tactical setup that could overcome the most resolute defences in Europe and was considerably less reliant on Lionel Messi than it is today.

The first order of business for Barcelona would be to devise a formation that gets the best out of the big names at the club. The likes of Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho have played similar roles to that of Lionel Messi and Ronald Koeman may have to find a way to redirect his efforts and make the most of Barcelona's expensive investments.

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#2 Remove the current administration

Bartomeu has caused irreversible damage

If Lionel Messi does leave the club this summer, Josep Maria Bartomeu will always be known as the Barcelona president that made it happen. Bartomeu has already caused irreparable damage to Barcelona and his decision-making skills have been questionable at best.

Barcelona holds elections once every six years and the socios of the club are scheduled to vote in 2021 to elect a new administration. If Lionel Messi does leave the club this summer, the Blaugrana's dreaded transition phase will commence immediately.

The only error that would prove more fatal than creating the circumstances that resulted in Lionel Messi's departure would be allowing the same executives that have run the club into the ground to initiate Barcelona's new era. Barcelona is in desperate need of a fresh start and the current administration has proven itself far too incompetent to provide it.

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#1 Modernise FC Barcelona

Barcelona needs a revolution

Barcelona is one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe and it is only fitting that a club of its stature uses the most modern techniques available to the sport today. The club's lack of foresight over the past few years has trickled into the first team and has had devastating effects on the team's fortunes on the pitch.

Liverpool and Bayern Munich are the strongest teams in Europe at the moment and given their commitment to modernity, it is no surprise that they boast the most efficient sides on the continent. Barcelona, on the other hand, has a medical team that consistently fails its star players and relies on relatively dated practices in a desperate bid to keep the club relevant.

Manchester City are best-placed to sign Lionel Messi should he leave Barcelona, reports @gerardromero pic.twitter.com/yFJH2MAW38

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 25, 2020

Barcelona will have to revolutionise every single one of its administrative and technical teams to stand a chance against European forces that will continue to leave the club in the lurch if it holds on to its outdated status quo. Barcelona can survive without Lionel Messi but will have to undergo the renaissance of the century to maintain the standards that are expected of the club.

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