Possession might be nine-tenths of the law but Barcelona's tiki-taka is flawed without magnificent Messi as part No 10
By JEFF POWELL
The Barcelona Project may not be the future of football after all.
The struggle of this team, which many have rushed to acclaim as the greatest of all time, to overcome the emergent billionaires of Paris Saint-Germain exposed a hidden fault line beneath the surface of brilliance.
When Lionel Messi came off the bench in the Nou Camp he gave Barcelona even more than the rapier pass to set up the goal which inched them past the challenge from the French capital and into their record breaking sixth successive Champions League semi-final.
Perfect 10: The genius of Messi makes an immeasurable difference to Barcelona
The best footballer in the world today also changed the psychological landscape of a difficult second leg, transforming the deepening pessimism in the Catalan ranks into a late surge of belief.
But even as the flush of celebration washed out of the stadium and into the Ramblas, the reliance on Messi carried an underlying message which will give hope to whoever they draw in the semis… or meet in the final if they make it to Wembley next month.
More significantly than that, it cast the first real doubt on keep-ball as the Holy Grail of the game.
Prolonged control of the football has swept Barcelona to all the glittering prizes. That philosophy has also provided the template for Spain’s conquests of the World Cup and European Championship.
Prolonged control of the football has swept Barcelona to all the glittering prizes. That philosophy has also provided the template for Spain’s conquests of the World Cup and European Championship.
But there has never been anything quite so emphatic about the Spain. Their champion club has been scoring goals for fun. Their national team finds them rationed.
Not an easy watch: Barcelona were struggling until Messi (right) came off the bench to replace Fabregas (below)
Messi comes on for Fabregas
The difference is the little Argentine who has just committed his future to Barca for as good as ever.
It hardly takes a genius to appreciate the value of Messi but it goes deeper than that. Possession without the genius to provide the end product is not of itself enough.
It hardly takes a genius to appreciate the value of Messi but it goes deeper than that. Possession without the genius to provide the end product is not of itself enough.
I watched Wednesday night’s game in the company of Messi’s countryman and former World Cup winning maestro, Ossie Ardiles, and other football men attending the Soccerex conference in Manchester.
The longer it went – even before PSG scored the opening goal which put them ahead on aggregate – the more concerned we became that Barcelona, despite all the pretty inter-passing, were becoming trapped in a cul-de-sac of their own creation.
Comfortable: Javier Pastore (right) had put a confident PSG into the lead
PSG were soaking them up and their quick, cutting-edge counter-attacks grew increasingly menacing. Their goal came as no surprise.
Ardiles said: ‘If Messi is not fit enough to come on, I fear this is over.’
Barcelona showed nothing in the ensuing minutes to allay that anxiety. There is no plan B at Barca. They are schooled as pass-masters but come the ultimate matches not even Iniesta and Xavi are certain to be enough without Messi.
PSG were comfortable. Then the little man emerged. Not only to roars as much of relief as delight but to apprehension in the French camp.
Fully fit he was not after straining his hamstring in the first leg. But he was able to make the elusive turn and slant in the pass which enabled Barcelona to escape on away goals.
Messi's momentum: As soon as the Argentine came on, Barca were on the front foot and PSG backed off
What he could not do was answer the elephantine question in the room where we were watching.
Ossie put it well: ‘Barca are supposed to be the way the whole game must go but that is not true for all the other teams who do not have Messi.
'Against opponents of this quality their possession can end up being used against them… unless they have Lionel to produce the magic and the breakthrough.’
The evidence had been before our eyes all evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a mighty force for Real Madrid and can win them games almost single-handedly but he is not an irreplaceable component of Jose Mourinho’s team and tactics, nor indispensable to that great club’s football ethos.
Relief: The goal by Pedro - after Messi's pass - sparked wild Barcelona celebrations (below)
Barcelona celebrate
Barcelona’s patient build-up is beautiful to behold but it gives opposing teams time to marshal their defences. And against the best of them it requires a stroke of sublime virtuosity to break through.
Before rushing to apply for the Guardiola patent, the rest of the football power houses need to consider whether there are more effective ways for the talent at their own disposal to go about the game.
Because there is only one little Leo. And Barcelona have him.
Only one Leo: Messi is unique - and Barcelona have him
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