The Barcelona No.10 has thrived no matter the coach in charge but the team is very different to the one which he starred in under Pep Guardiola

No club thinks about playing style more than Barcelona.

That was laid bare as they sacked coach Ernesto Valverde with the team top of La Liga, in a remarkable move earlier in January, replacing him with Quique Setien. The veteran coach finished 10th with Real Betis last season and has never won a trophy in his life. He does, however, play in the exact fashion which is so revered on the Camp Nou terraces.

Possession, control, verve, winning through the Cruyffian way is the Catalan dream. Ever since Pep Guardiola left in 2012, Barcelona haven’t been able to wake up from it.

Even though many of their legendary players are gone, including pass-masters Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, fans still expect Barcelona to play the same way. When more pragmatic coaches like Luis Enrique and Valverde take over, criticism quickly comes their way even if they prove successful; a treble for Lucho and two league titles for each says they were.

But whatever the difference in coaching, one constant over the past decade has been the sublime performances of Lionel Messi.

The Argentine made his La Liga debut in 2004 under Frank Rijkaard and between 2005 and 2008 became increasingly important for Barcelona. The Blaugrana were on a downward trajectory but Messi was on an upwards one and by 2007 was already on the Ballon d’Or podium, finishing third behind Kaka.

It was under Guardiola, who took over in 2008, that Messi became the true world-class star we know and love today. For many, this electric, darting iteration of Messi is the one which will be remembered.

Continue Reading here: http://winninggoals.com.ng/index.php/2020/01/31/how-will-messi-adapt-to-setiens-return-to-cruyff-style-of-football/