The way Messi has been playing lately made a lot of followers, commentators and fans call Barcelona a One-Man Show. There is no doubt that Messi is a genius, an extraordinary talent, a player who can change the outcome of any game in a split-second. Creative, highly-talented, fast and yet humble, Messi is probably the best player in the world right now, and has proved that he’s in a class of his own, even when compared to players like C. Ronaldo, Rooney or Kaka. Eight goals in three games, Messi has been in scintillating form lately, and it would be hard for any defense to slow him down.
However, this does not imply in any way that Barcelona are turning into a one man show. A club that has won absolutely everything last year, Barca is known for its unselfish play, entertaining football and team-comes-first mentality. Guardiola, a former Barca player, kept the tradition, and instilled the right teamwork spirit in all of the players. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Keita, Busquets, Pedro, Henry and even Ibrahimovich have all contributed to the success of the team so far, and it was never felt that any of these players have ego or self-importance issues.
Last year, Chelsea were the trickiest opponents for Barcelona in the Champions League, if not in all competitions. They were able to frustrate Barcelona for long periods and almost knocked them out of the competition. One of the key elements behind Chelsea’s play was neutralizing Messi, who couldn’t move easily, couldn’t do what he does best. Yet, Barcelona kept their composure, were persistent about their philosophy and style of play, and in the end it paid off when Iniesta scored a last-second goal. Barcelona’s schedule gets interesting in the coming few weeks. Two meetings with another beautiful-football club, Arsenal, in the Champions League quarter-finals, and a highly-anticipated showdown with La Liga joint-leaders Real Madrid. Guardiola will sure count on a group effort from his players, and it would be critical that each player plays up to his potential. If teams are hoping that Messi gets injured, thinking Barcelona would fall apart, they should know better. Messi would be missed for sure, but Barcelona will keep walking.
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Sure Barcelona will not fall apart without Messi BUT you have to admit it that with this superb performance, at some point it will affect the team(negatively)!
Barca without Messi is a GREAT team just like Chelsea or any big team but what make them ‘almost’ unbeatable is the great performance from Messi, hands down!
Barcelone with or without
Messi is going to winnnnn this year and teach everyone a good lesson just like last year!!!Neither Man U or Inter Milan or any other team should even be dreamin of winning the Champions’ league!!!
Well personally i dont believe that any player can provide a one-man show for any team, it was never proved to be existing. But i believe that a player or 2 can hide the low abilities of a manager.Lot of managers prove to be so dependent on a player to succeed while other managers create a successful team from fringe players. So, Barcelone without Messi would fail not because he is a one man show but because the manager lack what is needed to cover Messi’s absence.
Brilliant all round information on all the site very helpful everyone