Barcelona secured the La Liga title in convincing style last week with a 4-2 victory over Deportivo. Lionel Messi was once again instrumental as his side captured their 7th League title in 10 seasons. However, despite Barcelona’s dominance this season, much change and improvement is required if Barca are to keep hold of their title and right their wrongs on the European front next season.
Despite their disappointment at the hands of Roma a last month in their Champions League Quarter-final defeat, Barcelona have enjoyed a much more fruitful season on the domestic front under new manager Ernesto Valverde. The former Athletic Bilbao coach was tasked with the difficult job of steadying a ship which was dramatically sinking under predecessor Luis Enrique before he departed.
Ernesto Valverde has certainly done just that, with his team on track to become the only Spanish side to go through an entire league season unbeaten and having won the Copa Del Rey with a magnificent performance in the 5-0 thrashing of Sevilla. It has been an outstanding season for the Catalan giants considering the fact they were clouded with so much uncertainty at the start of the season with various discussions and debates on whether Barcelona can once again topple El Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
The departure of Brazilian superstar Neymar to PSG for a world record fee left a gaping hole in a squad that was already potentially in danger of fading away after Real Madrid’s dominance the previous campaign. The departure of Neymar left many fans and neutrals shocked and surprised, the thought of a star studded name joining French giants Paris Saint Germain must have left a sour taste within the Barca hierarchy. Questions were asked as to how the club could replace Neymar.
The signings of Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho were signings believed to compensate for the loss of such a big star in Neymar, although both signings are for the future of the club, there was still a feeling around the club that they could do more if they are to be dominant in Europe once again.
Despite their domestic success this season, there is still an aura around the club that the season was a missed opportunity to make their stamp in Europe under the new manager, the defeat to Roma was their 3rd quarter-final elimination in a row, squandering a 4-1 first leg advantage with an implosion that leading midfielder Sergio Busquets described as his worst experience in his whole career. The 3-0 loss in Rome was no freak accident, the Italian were dominant throughout the whole tie let alone the second-leg. Despite Barca’s emphatic first-leg lead, Roma were efficient and dominant in their performance – the 4-1 scoreline flattered both sides.
Barcelona have not won a knockout Champions League game away from home since beating Arsenal in 2016, and the defeat by Roma was very similar to the previous year when they were heavily beaten by both Paris Saint-Germain (4-0) and Juventus (3-0).
To prevent the same story next season, much change is required.
The Departure of Andres Iniesta – Who will step up?
This summer will see the impending departure of Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta as he embarks on a new chapter in his career reportedly set to be in China, ending his glorious and successful stay at the Nou Camp after nearly 700 appearances and 32 trophies won.
Iniesta’s departure will leave a gaping hole in the side – although the signings of Dembele and Coutinho were not only seen as replacements for Neymar but were made as a preparation for the potential departure of Iniesta. The huge gap left should at least be filled by those two signings, who cost nearly £300m combined but did not feature in the defeat to Roma with Coutinho cup-tied and Dembele left on the bench. Though, it remains to be seen whether their presence in the match would have made much of an impact.
Nonetheless, Coutinho has made a rather impressive start to life at Barcelona chipping in with some vital contributions such as his assist for Suarez in the Copa Del Rey victory over Sevilla underlining his positive star to life at the club.
However, the big question is where the Brazilian will fit in into the clubs system in the long run. In his 17 games for the club so far, the former Liverpool attacker has lined up on either flank and in a central midfield role. There is an obvious role for him in that department of course and also an obvious need for the gap left by Iniesta to be filled and Coutinho certainly fits the bill. There is much more room for improvement in his game if he is to become a more focal point in the centre of midfield though, especially on the defensive side of his game which means much of his attacking play would have to be subdued. Now that there is no Iniesta to call upon to assist him in the role, Valverde has a massive job on his hands to teach Coutinho to be more efficient in both the attack and defence.
By contrast, Dembele has endured a mixed start to his Barcelona career, which has not been helped by his three month injury lay with a thigh problem just after the season started. The 20-year-old French international has shown flashes of brilliance, notably a fine strike against Chelsea in the second leg of their round of 16 tie in the Champions League, but often looks out of place in Valverde’s rigid structure which has led him to committing many defensive mistakes.
Certainly, Dembele is still young and with much to learn but under the right coaching and management, there is no doubt the French hopeful can turn into someone of Neymar’s quality – if not better. The rawness and lack of defensive awareness to his game was the reason Valverde did not trust him to start against Roma, and the forward must work on his mental toughness and defensive awareness if he is to have any chance of becoming the top player many have touted him to be.
Coutinho and Dembele did link up nicely for one of their 4 goals against Deportivo to clinch the title last week, with the Frenchman providing a neat pass for the Brazilian to clinically dispatch the opener, Barcelona will be hoping and praying that combination becomes a regular theme next season as they start their process without the legendary Andres Iniesta.
Potential Arrival of Antoine Griezmann and more?
With Coutinho and Dembele expected to improve next season, there is still an aura around the Catalan club that they need to improve the depth of the squad to mount a serious challenge in Europe next season.
The Champions League loss to Roma was largely blamed on the lack of depth in the squad and the over-reliance on players such as Sergio Busquets, Ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti, Pique and Lionel Messi, with players becoming fatigued as the season closes. However, Barcelona wouldn’t have picked up so many points if it hadn’t been for those players which reflects the golf in class between the first choices and the players on the bench.
To address the lack of depth, Barcelona have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann by paying his 100m euro (£87.7,m) release cause. The signing of Griezmann would add another dimension to Valverde’s attack with Coutinho, Dembele and the French attacker all taking the weight off Messi and Suarez’s shoulders. It’s not only in attack Barcelona need to invest, but the midfield does a little light. Sky Sports La Liga expert Guillem Balague stating that the current crop is Barcelona’s ‘worst squad for a decade’ and certain additions this summer will certainly address the lack of depth in Valverde’s squad. Highly-rated Brazilian midfielder Arthur is set to arrive at the Camp Nou in a (£26m) deal from Brazilian outfit Gremio.
Though, before Barcelona can get their additions in, they will reportedly have to sell some players first with various reports suggesting that Valverde could rid of up to seven players in his squad. Players such as Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne, Denis Suarez, Alex Vidal and Paco Alcacer – despite their individual quality – have failed to set their careers at the Camp Nou alight and it will be reasonable for Barcelona to relieve them of their duties this summer.
Most interestingly, is the lack of players coming through the La Masia academy famed for producing a number of quality players over the years such as Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Messi and Xavi and with only one graduate of the academy in the squad (Sergi Roberto) at this moment, the academy has certainly dried up in recent years. Though, the clubs Under-19s did win the UEFA Youth League this season beating both Manchester City and Chelsea on their way to the final. Hopes are high for some of the players in that squad and the B team with Carles Alena hoping to breakthrough next season and Under 19 players such as ball playing midfielder Riqui Puig and striker Abel Ruiz who will soon provide much hope for the future.
Lionel Messi Reincarnated
Barcelona’s saving grace this season – despite their lack of depth – is the never ending impressive performances from none other than their talisman Lionel Messi and it can even be argued that his feat in inspiring a relatively average squad to an easily captured La Liga title is probably the one of the greatest feats of his career. Against Deportivo the other week, Messi became the first player to reach 30 or more goals in seven different La Liga campaigns, yet another record the little Argentinian magician had broken.
Whereas Messi was complemented by Sergio Busquests, Xavi and Andres Iniesta in his younger days, the new role Valverde has placed him as allowed to master all those individual roles into one, being a really effective and masterful playmaker as well as the squads main goal threat. If there is any shoulder you’d want your whole squad emphasis its Messi’s and he has executed it to devastating effect this season. Although Messi doesn’t have the same pace as he used to, he is still as effect roaming around the pitch seeking the opportunity to pounce, the Argentinian has developed into more of a complete player under Valverde, and credit has to go to the Spanish coach who has mastered Messi’s new role perfectly, becoming the club’s reference point in attack.
| Messi in all competitions 2017-18 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games played | Goals | Assists | Shot conversion rate | Chances created | Shots on target |
| 52 | 44 | 18 | 15.4 | 116 | 132 |
Interestingly, this is the first season Messi has been employed in the number 10 role or even the ‘Enganche’ – a traditional number 10 instructed to sit behind the teams main striker. In the past, he has been deployed as a false nine or even a right-sided winger but Valverde has played just behind Suarez giving him the license to play deeper and instigate play like Xavi once did in his own time at the club.
Messi’s re-incarnation as a creative playmaker and striker at the same time is clearly shown by his stats this season leading in La Liga in goals (33), assists (12) and chances created.
With Messi playing so well in his new role, and showing no signs of deteriorating, Barcelona are always going to be in with a chance but much reinforcements and change to the club structure this summer if the club harbors any ambition of being dominant in Europe once again. With the World Cup looming, much work will need to be done behind the scenes before the tournament gets under way.
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