Barça lives on the ledge but continues to add three at a time and counts all of its league games in 2021 with wins. It is now six consecutive games in a series of eleven games without a loss (nine wins and two draws) that shape Koeman’s project. A project, always, held on the shoulders of the captain. Because Lionel Messi is the builder, driver and absolute leader of a team that needs him to grow. Without discussion.
His first trip of the week to Seville proved it once again. The coach suggested several breaks, with the captain at the helm, and eventually called on him to lead a two-faced Barça, in which Pjanic turned out to be far from expected, Riqui lacked guidance and was excited as soon as Koeman retouched the ball . stuff. He retraced his steps and was even lucky with the changes …
It all happened after seeing a barely recognizable team. De Jong, Araújo’s substitute, playing as a central defender, Mingueza as a winger, Braithwaite as a winger, Pjanic as an insider without any paces or combinations, Puig, in his first league title, unaccompanied that opened space for him … Badly placed and worse connected , it took the team horrors to find themselves until Messi showed up.
“A Barça with Messi is better because he is number one in the world. It’s very important,” revealed Koeman, who acknowledged having spoken to him on Saturday, “and we decided to give him a rest and only go to him if it was necessary. ” It was necessary, yes … as usual. And there was the luck that first Pedri and then Leo and Trincao were transcendental in the victory. The Portuguese with his first goal for Barça.
There was luck … and bad luck. The misfortune of not counting Araújo among those chosen to rest, as the Uruguayan barely lasted twelve minutes on the grass before injuring himself, sustaining a sprained ankle and limping to get his presence on the air in nine days against PSG more let.
Barça’s defense hurts a lot. The injured Sergi Roberto, the coach did not take any chances with Dest but he did with Araújo and now he will have to wait to know the extent of his sprain, making it very doubtful whether he will take the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 can play.