Barcelona On Right Track In Their Post Messi Era Project
Barcelona started a new project this season under new manager Ronald Koeman, and considering the Lionel Messi transfer saga last summer, the details in the new project will include planning life after the Argentine.
Messi 33, who joined Barcelona when he was 13 from his boyhood club, Newell's Old Boys, has enjoyed a successful spell with the Catalan club, but the after an unsuccessful campaign in the 2019-20 season, which ended with an 8-2 demolition and subsequent elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich, he made he a decision to take up a new challenge elsewhere.
However, rumours of a move away from the Camp Nou will not go away as the player insists he wanted to leave, with the club and LaLiga affirming that he will have to see out his contract next summer. Messi in the end made the decision to stay for the 2020-21 season.
A lot of Barcelona's misfortunes have been down to former President Josef Bartomeu and the board's incompetence and the Catalan faithfuls belief Messi might commit future to the club if the President resign. Bartomeu and the board members did resign in the later days of last month.
Months into what may be Lionel Messi's final season at the club, Barcelona, this season haven't play a match without the Argentine involvement, starting all their games except the 5-2 home win over Real Betis before the international break.
Before he came on at half-time, Barcelona's performance wasn't really convincing, though they took the lead and had the chance to double it from the spot but Antonnie Griezmann's effort from 12 yards was saved by former Barcelona goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo in the Betis goal. They conceded a late equaliser finished the half tied.
Lionel Messi came off the bench to replace injured Ansu Fati and steered them to victory with another masterclass performance, which saw him score his first goal from open play in all competitions this season.
Though it wasn't a convincing performance before Messi's cameo, the whole process can not be judge base on a 45 minutes showing, and Barcelona can be said to be on the right track in the life they plan after their talisman's departure.
Apart from his second strike against Betis, Lionel Messi's other two league goals this season came from the spot, all of his three in the UEFA Champions League have also been from penalties. Barcelona's top scorer in the league is 18year old Ansu Fati, (four) who has been the club's best player so far in the league this season.
Messi's contributions this season have been vital, but when it comes down to goals, he has come short so far this campaign. Being their top scorer in all competition is quite easy to note, but anyone could pick up the ball and fire home from 12 yards.
Barcelona did have many candidates in the team to replace Lionel Messi, though no one come close to the Argentine's class and abilities. However, it is inevitable that Lionel Messi will one day leave, maybe or not this summer, someone else will have to take over from him.
Ansu Fati, one of the hottest prospect at Barcelona and in the world had his breakthrough season last campaign and has shown what he can do when called upon, time and again. He has also hit the ground running this season and even become the youngest goal-scorer in the El Classico when he scored the club's only goal in the 3-1 loss to Real Madrid this season.
The 18 year old Spaniard was also the best performer in the league in the month of October and did picked-up the award before the match against Real Madrid. Surely, the Catalan faithfuls will have high hopes for the La Masia graduate.
Ousmane Dembélé is another brilliant football with great ball work, talent and pace, surely there is no one better to take over from Messi in the current Barcelona squad than the Frenchman, if he can stay fit from injuries.
Pedri and Trincão are another impressive young talents, who both teamed up with the Barcelona this season and have shown glimpse of their brilliance, with the more impressive Pedri tipped to fill the void left by sidelined Ansu Fati.
Philippe Coutinho is another superstar at the club, he has impressed since returning from his loan spell at Bayern and has hit top gears with Barcelona this season before sustaining an injury which has kept him out for the past few weeks.
Barcelona have had good fortunes in young players in the past, they were able to replace Ronaldinho before his departure as Lionel Messi proved an upgrade on the Brazilian maestro and they will be hopeful that in the crop of young players in their ranks, they will find one suit to lead them forward, post Messi era.
The club have struggle to win games in the last few seasons and Barcelona will know replacing Messi should not be their only obsession but building a cohesive team, capable of restoring the club back to it's glory days.
With the international break over, the club return to league on Saturday when they travel to Estadio Wanda Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid. Barcelona will be working on giving more minutes to the young players in order to get them ready for the tasks that await in the future.
Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
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