Messi gives Barca ray of hope
While others struggle, Argentine has once again put his hand up to drag the Catalans out of trouble
MADRID: Lionel Messi has said Barcelona are not playing well enough to win this season’s Champions League but his four goals against Eibar on Saturday were a reminder that with him there will always be hope.
Barca play Napoli in the first leg of the last 16 on Tuesday and will be expected to go through, even if their opponents are on a strong run, having won six out of their last seven matches, including victories over Juventus and Inter Milan.
Yet despite a whirlwind couple of months of political wrangling, remarkably Barcelona approach this tie sitting top of La Liga and with a spring in their step, in large part due to Messi.
His quadruple in the 5-0 rout on Saturday was cathartic and not only because Real Madrid, whom Barca face in the Clasico on Sunday, failed to regain first place after losing to Levante. “It was a win we needed,” said coach Quique Setien.
Messi has scored seven quadruples in his career but none executed amid such an intense time of pressure, with the spotlight on the Argentine.
While other players might have sulked or crumbled, Messi delivered with another breathtaking performance that underlined his ability to drag this troubled team through even the most turbulent of periods.
“He’s been in this form for 14 or 15 years and he keeps performing like this,” said Setien.
“He’s a guarantee for any club and for any coach and that’s what makes him the best player in the world. He can do things that others can only dream about.” Messi could have had many reasons to feel upset but he hasn’t let them affect his performances.
Yet if Messi were to win the Champions League this season, it would surely represent one of his most impressive achievements.
With the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Arthur Melo in midfield and the excellent Marc-andre ter Stegen in goal, they do not lack for talent but weaknesses in defence remain, not to mention a fragility against the counter-attack.
And by appointing Setien, a coach devoted to a very particular style, Barcelona are having to change mid-season. “It’s not easy,” said Messi. “We come from playing under Valverde to playing differently now and being asked to do something else.”
But with in-form Napoli fastapproaching and then Madrid to come at the Santiago Bernabeu, time is not on Barcelona’s side. For now, they will look to Messi.