Why Barcelona were the biggest disappointment of the 2016/17 season

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 19: Mario Lemina of Juventus embraces Neymar of Barcelona after the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Camp Nou on April 19, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Barcelona could only plunder a Copa Del Rey this past season

#4 Managerial uncertainty that cast a shadow over the season

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 27: Head coach Luis Enrique of FC Barcelona looks on  during the Copa Del Rey Final between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Vicente Calderon stadium on May 27, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Luis Enrique

With all the furore that persistently surrounded him, it can be easy to forget that Luis Enrique won nine trophies out of a possible 13 during his three seasons as manager. Even so, Enrique hardly ever enjoyed unanimous love in Camp Nou. Irritable press conferences, animated touchline gestures and frequent insinuations about the internal politics that plagued Barcelona did not endear Lucho to everyone.

Going into the final year of his contract, speculation about their manager's future threw a dark cloud over Barcelona's season. As Arsene Wenger would readily attest, such uncertainty is not the best of environments to nurture a winning squad.

The eventual separation may have been 'mutual' – but it is clear Enrique did not receive the respect he deserved.

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