Fears that Barcelona will become the next 'galacticos'
Apr 25, 2007 - 8:29:32 AM
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Barcelona is counting its chances and looks ahead to a more favourable calendar than those awaiting its rivals over the seven remaining matches. However, the team's greatest problem does not appear to be its rivals, but itself and its identity crisis.
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By DPA,
[RxPG] Barcelona, April 25 - The 'Messi effect' lasted only a few days, and after showing once again its ugliest face Barcelona fears having become a team of 'galacticos.'
The 2-0 defeat against Villarreal Sunday was a blow for the Catalan club, which still leads La Liga but hasn't played convincing football.
Barcelona has an advantage of only one point over Sevilla and two points over arch-rival Real Madrid. But what really worries its fans is the fact that the team is not giving out positive signals. It's been a long time since the defending champion stopped being reliable.
Villarreal took advantage of Barca's weaknesses to erase the tournament leader from the field in the second half. Besides, the defeat had some important symbolic content, since it was the first in a game in La Liga with Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Leo Messi in the starting line-up.
Barcelona fans suffered a tremendous disappointment following the huge noise made midweek by Leo Messi's impressive goal against Getafe in the King's Cup semifinal first leg. Suddenly, as has happened so often this season, Dr Jekyll became Mr Hyde.
Abundant criticism in the press in Barcelona and beyond aims at all layers of the club. They accuse officials of making too many mistakes in signings, and say that the coach is too soft on his allegedly pretentious players.
'This Barcelona thing does not look good. The team does not show up, neither do the stars and ... the coach might as well not be there. They make things so easy for rivals that La Liga is open when they should have won it just like Inter or Lyon won theirs,' the daily Sport said.
The game exposed the bad form of players like Eto'o or Ronaldinho, who each squandered in the first half a one-on-one chance with the Villarreal goalkeeper, Uruguayan Sebastian Viera.
'Three guys like Ronaldinho, Eto'o or Messi cannot forgive so much. Three geniuses like them cannot let Carlos Puyol be the best Barcelona player,' said the daily Mundo Deportivo.
Madrid analysts have long been announcing that Barcelona is experiencing the same evils that once caused the crash of the Real Madrid 'galaxy.' There is talk of permissiveness with stars, of lack of hard work and of commercial interests taking priority over sports matters.
And to acknowledge that there is some truth in this, Barcelona travelled to Cairo on Monday to play a friendly game against Egypt's Al Ahly on Tuesday, in exchange for 1.5 million euros -.
The trip has already been described as 'very inopportune,' and to add insult to injury the match is set to coincide with a semifinal of the Champions League - a tournament in which Barcelona can no longer defend its crown.
Barcelona is counting its chances and looks ahead to a more favourable calendar than those awaiting its rivals over the seven remaining matches. However, the team's greatest problem does not appear to be its rivals, but itself and its identity crisis.
La Liga is thankful, because it's getting ready to experience a thrilling end to the season.
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