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Madrid (AFP)
A season already compromised? Between the placing on the bench of Antoine Griezmann, the strong pressure on the coach Quique Setién and the Liga which seems badly engaged, FC Barcelona approaches a very complicated end of season, in the shadow of Real Madrid, solid leader.
Having chained against Atlético Madrid (2-2) a third draw in four games of the Spanish Championship, Barça seems to have lost ground in the title race before the match of Real Madrid, which receives Getafe Thursday evening (8:00 p.m. GMT) to try to take four points ahead.
But beyond these disappointing results, the club looks like a pressure cooker on the fire, bubbling with doubts and questions.
– Griezmann, an expensive replacement –
After locker room bickering that stirred the club last weekend, and a meeting in stride with the management, the tactical choices of coach Quique Setién seem to be much discussed.
French world champion Antoine Griezmann, flagship rookie of last summer from Atlético (120 M EUR), did not enter until the 90th minute of the match against his former team, while the Catalans procrastinated in attack without finding the flaw.
“It is true that it is hard to bring him in this way, for a player of his level. But circumstances forced me to do that. I could have made another decision, not to let him enter for example , but you still have the hope that a player like him can do a punctual action that will allow you to win the match, “Setién justified himself in a post-match press conference on Tuesday evening.
“I will not apologize to him, because it is a decision that I must accept, but I am sure that it is a decision that he will understand,” he dramatized.
– Setién, a broken promise –
These questionable tactical choices place Setién (61) on a powder magazine when the Cantabrian technician was specifically called on the bench in January to try to appease the club.
“I can’t promise to win, but I promise my team will play well,” he said.
For now, the commitment is not kept: Barça no longer shines with his game, and disappoints with his results.
“I am very used to getting out of delicate situations. I am not as happy as when I arrived, because the situation is what it is, but internally, I feel good. I feel supported by the locker room” , said Setién, saying “convinced that we are going to get out of it”.
– Messi, a 700th goal in vain –
At 33, Captain Lionel Messi remains the one who sets the course but the superstar is no longer enough to save the Barça ship.
Author of his 700th professional career goal on Tuesday with a superb panenka from the penalty spot, the Argentinian, however, has stalled a bit in recent days and he cannot hide the misery of the blaugrana game.
Admittedly, there are still five days to go for Barça and Messi, top scorer in Liga (22 goals), can still raise the bar. But Barça no longer has its destiny in hand and must now hope for two faux pas from Real to go back to …
– Arthur-Pjanic, an exchange in question –
Now in his thirties, the sixfold Ballon d’Or risks struggling to remain decisive in the future. And the flight of young Barcelona talents around him does not encourage optimism.
Monday, to balance its accounts, Barça formalized the transfer of its Brazilian international midfielder Arthur (23 years old), which was a medium to long term bet, to bring in the Bosnian international Miralem Pjanic (30 years old).
The former Lyonnais is certainly a more effective recruit in the immediate future, but that jeopardizes the future of the club blaugrana of the post-Messi era.
In the meantime, if La Liga smiles at Real Madrid, Barça risks having only the Champions League to save its season. With a knockout return to play against Naples in early August, and the desire to reach the “final 8” in Lisbon with the European dish. But what shape will Barça be in a month?
© 2020 AFP
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