FC BARCELONA: GOING DOWN THE AC MILAN WAY?

A 3-NIL loss to both Benfica & Bayern Munich, a possible bottom group stage elimination in the Champions League, 6th in the LaLiga points table, inconsistent first-team performances and irregular managerial decisions. Things are not looking very bright for FC Barcelona.

The historic football club is currently having a hard time on both the National and European fronts as their management has reported a +1Billion Dollar debt which unfortunately led to the end of Leo Messi's illustrious career in Blaugrana colors.

Football fans around the world can relate the Catalan club's current woes to AC Milan, the Italian side that had players like Ronaldo, Maldini, Baresi, Beckham, Ibrahimovic, and Nesta to name a few, don the famous Diavolo colors. After winning the Scudetto in the 2010-11 Season the club performance declined after a series of economic and sporting errors and although they have managed to get themselves back into European contention Barcelona seems to be heading in the opposite direction to the Europa League.

The question on everyone's mind is that Will Barca go down the same road as the Rossoneri? or is there some hope still left? Here's my analysis:

A LONG WAY FROM HOME

Let us face it, Barcelona is not the same team from the glory days of Pep Guardiola. That time, although sweet, has long since passed. The outfit no longer boasts of having the greats like Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta, or Messi in their ranks. Recent players have come under a lot of scrutinies the signings made by the club have also been very questionable. 

SQUAD CHANGES

This season the club saw the arrival of Memphis Depay (Lyon), Emerson Royal (Betis), Sergio Aguero(ManCity), Eric Garcia (ManCity), Yusuf Demir (loan from Rapid Wien), and Luuk De Jong (loan from Sevilla).

Leo Messi(PSG), Junior Firpo(Leeds), Emerson Royal (Spurs), Jean-Claire Todibo (Nice), Matheus Fernandes (Palmeiras), and Masia graduates Carles Aleñá (Getafe) and Ilaix Morriba(Leipzig) we're all taken off the clubs books. Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann (Atletico), Trincao (Wolves) Rey Manaj (Spezia), Miralem Pjanic (Besiktas), and Manchu (Granada) were sent on loan spells to cut the club's already astronomical expenses.

PROBLEMS GALORE

Barca started the league off with a great 4-2 win over Real Sociedad but as the games went on the team started to lack fluidity. There were tactical changes that seemed too bizarre to believe. In the game against Granada, Ronald Koeman had no choice but to deploy veteran defender Gerard Pique as the Centre forward to partner along with Memphis and Luuk. Anyone watching the game would know that this is not the way Barcelona is used to playing and if it weren't for that superb Araujo goal, they would have lost 3 important points against Robert Moreno's men.

INJURIES AND SETBACKS

Barcelona has a surfeit of problems and their injury list is the biggest one. As of today, Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho have made their return after long spells on the sidelines. Serginõ Dest and Pedri returned to action after a few minor knocks but players like Dembele, Braithwaite, Aguero, Alejandro Balde, and Jordi Alba are all out due to injuries. (Meanwhile, Samuel Umtiti and Aguero are yet to play for Barcelona this season.)

KOEMAN'S STRUGGLE TO FIND A WINNING COMBINATION CONTINUES

As Barcelona sit 6th in the league table the pressure is high on Ronald Koeman and many sources predict that should the next game (Vs Atletico) go wrong then that would be the Ex-Defender's last game as Barça Boss.

A FAINT GLIMMER OF HOPE

While we can sit and constantly question the team's performance we need to constantly remind ourselves that this club is rebuilding its first team from scratch and while the results are bad for now, it is still too early to predict anything perfectly as we saw in the match against Levante where Ansu came and scored a goal in 9 minutes. Additionally, players like Jordi Alba and Kun Aguero seem to be on their road to recovery with Dembele being the only one who is most likely to be out for a while because of the injury he sustained on international duty with France in Euro2020.

This team is not perfect, but its players and staff are trying their level best to get this club back to its glory days but the road ahead isn't an easy one. However, as Barça's president, Joan Laporta said the fans need to have Patience and for now that's all we can do.

Visça Barça! Visça Catalyuna! 

- Asher Collin Alex Dias