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Comment: 0 August 22nd, 2011 by: admin
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HOW far can Barcelona go without Lionel Messi?

With him, Barca look decidedly sharp. Without him, they look vulnerable.

Admittedly the Catalan side’s difference-maker, the Argentine superstar dictates where his team is headed. His absence or presence decides the outfit’s fate.

Like when he engineered their title-winning feats in the La Liga and Champions League last season, but unlike in their recent United States tour where Barcelona, sans their driving force, played nowhere near their championship form.

They were there for some rest and recreation. Nothing to be worried about even if they lose but their struggling shape in their warmup games for the new season has led many to speculate whether they are ready to defend their Spanish La Liga and Champions League crowns.

LAST-GASP VICTORY

The Catalans went to the United States to join the World Football Challenge but won only one of their three outings, salvaging a 2-0 victory over Club America in the last of those assignments.

As their leading light was somewhere else spending his own vacation or playing football for a cause, they were whipped by Manchester United 2-1 and stunned 4-1 by Chivas of Guadalajara earlier.

The Catalans did not play with their full-strength lineup as other key players also did not join the tour, and their performance did not really reflect the fearsome form they unleashed last season. They were there for some rest and recreation.

Against the Mexican side Club America, striker David Villa and midfielder Seydou Keita scored for Barca who seemed to play with their minds wandering off football aimlessly.
Villa connected in the 24th minute after a nice short cross from Adriano Correia which the latter easily headed from just outside the 6-yard box.

Keita struck in the 90th minute following a great individual effort by reserve forward Gerard Deulofeu who eluded a defender and the goalkeeper to make a short center feed to Keita. Deulofeu’s feat was amply rewarded as Keita easily tapped the ball in.

BLOWN CHANCES

Villa could have achieved a hat-trick or more on a better day but he struggled to find the back of the net more by blowing several chances. Keita’s effort also bared Barca’s scrambling appearance when the Mexicans came perilously close to leveling the count in the waning minutes.

Barca boss Pep Guardiola felt worried as he admitted that they still have to attain their peak playing capacity.

Guardiola blamed the humidity in Miami as a negative factor in their loss to Chivas whereas the air-conditioning control at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas where they beat Club America helped them salvage the win.

So how important Messi really is to Barcelona? The recent Spanish Supercopa gave us another glimpse of his supreme value to the club.

Barca had their initial acid test when they officially opened their season in the first leg of the Supercopa against who else but bitter rivals Real Madrid. The match ended in a 2-2 standoff, with Messi contributing a goal for the Catalans.

Messi’s worth came to the fore again in the second leg when he netted in two goals, including the late winner as Barca came away the 3-2 winners and hauled their 10th Supercopa crown.

The final outcome could have been totally different had Barca played without Messi who simply gives his team that unique championship aura and swagger. Only “The Flea’’, not anyone else, could weave that kind of magic to the Catalans.

HEART AND SOUL

Barca lost to the Los Blancos in the Copa del Rey last season but bounced back to win the Spanish title and Europe’s Holy Grail, mainly because of Messi’s wondrous exploits.

Sure Barca can play even without Messi but they need 100 per cent firepower which is what the Argentine brings to the table — he holds the team together. When No. 10 is on the pitch, everything seems to work just fine for the Blaugrana who transform into an almost invincible unit. Even Xavi and Andres Iniesta always seem to look perfect at midfield when the principal target of their assists is available.

It could have been the Los Blancos having the last laugh the past season if Messi were not around to power Barca to those twin triumphs that stamped their reputation as the top football side on the planet.

Despite the amount of confidence that was channeled with the return of Messi, the Catalans still need to wake up and be jolted back to their senses. Their unimpressive stint in the United States exposed a chink in their armour – that they are not that invincible without the world’s No. 1 footballer. Their recent Supercopa caper showed he is the indisputable heart and soul of the squad.

While the La Liga is still on hold because of players’ strike, Barca is keeping us waiting with bated breath as to what kind of unit will show up this season. Will they still be the same team that looked hard to beat the last term? Will Messi remain their go-to guy or will others step up to put in their claims?

Vacation is over. It is now time for Barca and Messi to get back on track or to be more apt — to serious business.

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