It’s time to be accountable in Barcelona from top to bottom

It was a beautiful two weeks, but now he has come back to earth for Barcelona, ​​a reminder of the structural problems the club is working on.

The loss to Cádiz was reminiscent not only of previous games where Barcelona players shot themselves in the foot with unforced errors, but also of the lack of competitive spirit of previous years.

It wasn’t long ago that Messi and Suárez called for the team to be self-critical. At this point, awareness is not enough. Ronald Koeman needs to hold his top players accountable.

The reality that the club has no money to spend means that Barcelona will have to work with the players it does have, from the old guard of the last decade to homegrown players desperate for a chance to prove themselves.

Fans will also have to do themselves a favor by having realistic expectations. This season is going to be a roller coaster ride. In many ways, the Barça world has been treated with a fantasy that was never going to last.

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Messi was a dream. The best of all time. But he is not, and never was, an alien or a god. For a fan to describe it this way is understandable. But that the club president did, and other people in charge of making important decisions, was evidence that they weren’t equipped to do their job.

In the long run, Barcelona would do well to copy the model of most German clubs. Above all, be solvent. Second, show some respect for the game and form a team evaluating how each piece fits into the larger puzzle.

It may be true that the presence of Messi hinders the team that helps these days. His teammates are too deferential and must think that the game doesn’t need to flow through him. Part of the problem is that Messi is essentially a positionless player. Ultimately, you go where you want when you want, which is difficult for a manager to plan tactically.

The defense’s problems are well documented, but it would be a mistake to put all the blame there. Defensive mistakes are a symptom, not the disease. The disease is the attitude. The Barcelona players, starting with the veterans, after years of winning on behalf of Messi’s eldest, have become headlines. And it is an attitude that has spread to all corners of the club. Barcelona needs to learn that it is earned through hard work and passion on a constant basis. There is no substitute.

Against Cádiz, Barcelona should have been ruthless the moment the game started, and overwhelm their inferior rival by throwing all their talent at them. Instead, we got the all too recognizable indulgence of possession for the sake of possession. 82%. And what to show for it?

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You have to criticize Sergio Busquets harshly. It’s not personal, and I’m not even sure it’s something I can correct, but what made it exceptional in the past doesn’t work anymore. It’s not his lack of speed, but decision-making, and it’s infecting Frenkie de Jong too. From side to side and backwards, it’s hardwired in your brain, not fun to watch, and it plays into the hands of opponents like Cádiz who sit deep and park the bus, waiting to pounce on a mistake.

The only exception was one of the best plays of the game when Busquets made a direct pass to Sergiño Dest, who was very close to scoring the goal that could have changed things. Players like Dest are the future due to the dynamic runs they perform with the ball. Constantly overlapping and running behind, and then straight into the box. He was the most dangerous player of the night, and for fans looking for something to cheer on this season, put your hope on the American.

But players like Dest, and even Jordi Alba, who has really been working hard on the left wing, need midfielders to find them.

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Koeman needs to play now with Riqui Puig and Carles Aleñá. Both players, but especially Riqui, have shown that the forward is their favorite direction. They are also eager to earn their minutes and not so tainted by past failures.

If La Liga starts to get out of hand, use young players as much as possible, make this year a test. Due to injuries, everyone will be needed, even players who have disappointed the team for years.

Responsibility means that they are not entitled to the same prominent role. Let’s see what the “baby Barça” can do, and not just in shooting matches. The best way for Koeman to foster this new culture is to start with Messi, who should be part of the rotation like everyone else.

After all, there are no gods in the field, only people willing to fight hard for every minute they are given.