Messi needs Barcelona more than Barcelona needs Messi
Before anyone is vaguely prejudiced by the headline, let me clear something out, this article does not take anything away from Messi or his achievements. He rightfully deserves them all. It’s simply a comparison between two needs. The need to be with one another for each other’s good. Let’s see whose need is bigger and how.
Following natural laws, anyone would always prefer to live in favourable conditions for life and nothing wrong in doing so. Sooner or later, this results in providing a better possibility for evolution and development. This can be followed by the fact that a money plant grows very much effectively when in shadow than in sun. Similarly, given that the phenomenon called Messi was a product of Barcelona’s Youth Academy, he has effectively adopted the tailor made free-flowing style of Barcelona.
Two-three years earlier, Messi was influential in picking the passes to create chances. It’s not the case that he isn’t capable today, it’s just he has a different role these days. Although it’s true that Messi being the role of playmaker have reduced a bit, compared to the earlier seasons. Now, he has excellently adapted to the role of being at the other end of the decisive pass rather than being the one who created it. Watching some of the most recent goals scored by Messi, one can see that he plays the role of a finisher or a marksman. Playing 15 matches and getting 42 shots on goal and netting 23 times speak volumes about his talent.
The fact that Barca has the likes of Fabregas, Iniesta and Xavi, creating chances behind him, makes the play-making sector more than just irrepressible. Ever since the former Arsenal captain has returned to his boyhood club, Messi has been clearly dislodged from this sector. As a result, most of the balls that are sent into the net by Messi, come from the trio. As a matter of fact, out of the 23 goals scored by Messi, until before the match against Atlético, in La Liga 2012-2013 season a huge chunk of assists, around 16, were provided amongst the trio. For that reason, he would definitely miss the likes of Xavi and Fabregas whenever he plays away from Barca.
Throughout his career, he hasn’t played for any other club other than Barcelona. The only other side that he has played for, other than Barca, is Argentina. His stats rather than performances while playing for the national team are comparably a bit short of what he does best back at Camp Nou. The reasons are numerous but traceable, although the end result being whenever he has been tested away from Barca he has been able to achieve much less as compared to what he has achieved with the Catalans, throughout these years. Taking into account the significant amount of talent Argentina possesses, their performances in international competitions have been below par, for sure.
Back in Barcelona, newly appointed manager, Tito Vilanova, has pumped in a special dose of enthusiasm in the team. Although, he is aware of every nook and corner of Camp Nou, where he has been for the last four years working as an assistant to Pep Guardiola, being the boss brings in a certain level of responsibility. The unexpected ultra-positive streak of results, with coach Tito Vilanova leading the Blaugranas to the best start to a La Liga season in history, clearly exemplifies the depth of a squad during a period in which 12 out of 22 players were sidelined due to injury in the first trimester of the competition.
Today, Barcelona’s bench strength is truly exceptional. This leads to serious competition amongst the players to be a part of the first team. The likes of Fabregas, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Song, Mascherano and others from the Youth Academy absolutely suffice the need of midfielders. While the attack is bolstered by Messi, Villa, Pedro, Alexis and sometimes Iniesta taking the wide attacking position. The productive 4-3-3 formation of Barcelona seems to be happy with these numbers and quality in attack. Considering, what Messi has been doing off lately, definitely the likes of Villa, Pedro or Sanchez are capable of doing the same.
For Messi, in order to score another 86 plus goals in a calendar, he undeniably needs the services of Fabregas, Iniesta and Xavi or in other words, Barcelona. On the other hand, though the probability that the manager would ever allow his talisman to go seem to be very low, the fact that they have pretty strong bench strength and playmakers of the highest quality and most importantly, a one of a kindYouth Academy, Barca does have the capability of shaping another Messi.
Messi though being Messi, with just his mere presence on pitch, brings out a difference in the team.