Barcelona is playing inconsistent at the start of the new La Liga season, and Catalan giants’ head coach Ronald Koeman believes this has something to do with the performances of Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi.
Messi hasn’t been his usual self in 2020/21, managing to score only one goal in the first four matches. He was held scoreless in the past three games, including the shocking loss to Getafe over the weekend.
Speaking about his team’s troubles on Monday, Koeman singled out Messi and hinted that he isn’t pleased with the way the 33-year-old player is playing.
“Maybe, at the moment, Messi’s performances could be better,” said Koeman.
Koeman then quickly praised Messi by saying that he is “working hard” and blamed his shortcomings on “bad luck”.
“I don’t have any doubts about his performances and we’re going to see him [at his best] in the upcoming games, I’m sure,” he added.
Koeman’s comments come at a bad moment, considering that Lionel Messi is seemingly unhappy at the club having attempted to leave Barcelona this past summer. Messi later agreed to stay for one more season after Barca refused to let him out of his contract, but the club has no way of stopping him again.
Messi will become a free agent next summer and will be able to leave Barcelona. Whether that happens will largely depend on the club’s success in this season and the relationship he develops with Koeman. If you ask us, neither is favorable at this moment.
