What fans were hoping for finally came last weekend, when Messi started for the first time. He entered the field for 45 minutes, assisting Antoine Griezmann and Barca to win 2-1.
That was Barca's third win in La Liga 2019/20. Although they did not win spectacularly, it was enough to temporarily repel the black ball after a 0-2 defeat to province province province. However, the price is also expensive. In the 46th minute, Messi began to practice and was taken off the field.
The news was changing until Barcelona's doctors said the superstar would be out for at least two weeks. This means that in the next 3 matches against Getafe, Sevilla (La Liga) and Inter Milan (Champions League), El Puga will continue to watch his teammates play.
How much suffering will Barca suffer without Messi? The beginning of the season has proven it most clearly. A team of many expensive stars competing like "swan loses head", is disjointed and confused. Playing at home or away, there was a feeling that Barca were both fragile.
Messi has not fully recovered from his calf injury, but coach Valverde still has to try to let him play because he has no way to save the team. However, this decision is bringing many consequences.
In the match against Dortmund, Messi also played half time but his mark on the field was almost 0. The 32-year-old superstar did not dare to do tricks through brands or accelerate. Messi played slowly to keep the rhythm and unfortunately, his position was not suitable for that style of play. Barca are still confused and almost sold out at Signal Iduna Park.
The losing loss to Madrid made Valverde even more impatient and forced to use Messi. It was true that Barca beat Villareal to temporarily escape the crisis, but they continued to lose Messi for 3 more matches. And the difficulties are piling up as upcoming opponents like Inter or Sevilla have never been an easy challenge.
Valverde's impatience may come from the pressure he is suffering from the top of the Nou Camp complex. If we wait for Messi to fully recover, it is unknown whether Barca will lose to both Dortmund and Villareal. At that time, this coach's chair was sometimes "flying".
But a problem is, after trying to use Messi and temporarily escape the crisis, he lost this superstar in the next phase and was predicted to have more difficulties. The current situation of Barca and Valverde personally is in a mess.
This situation is the consequence that the team at Nou Camp has to suffer after many years of relying on Messi. Since the legendary generation of Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol,... passed away, Barca have not found a stable framework to maintain success.
If Messi plays well, Barca wins and the opposite is also true.
Now, Barcelona only needs Messi to run on the field to be a fulcrum for the whole team, but this has become too much of a luxury due to the adventure and heat. Messi will recover, but how long will it take for him to return to his best form? And in that time, how did Barca respond when the new recruits themselves had not shown much?
At Nou Camp, Messi is considered a Saint. And without that Saint, Barca's home is no longer considered a sanctuary.
