Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes who was present in Mestalla last weekend to watch Barcelona take on Valencia, via his Independent column, has expressed concern over the current condition of the Spanish giants.
Scholes criticized the inability of Barcelona to dominate play during the match and also noted that their prowess have been reducing ever since former coach Pep Guardiola left the club in 2012.
“When they were at their best, playing against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona could be a soul-destroying experience,” said Scholes.
“In that era Barcelona were special. They were undoubtedly the best team in the world and so I was interested to see them in person this season with that attacking combination of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
“For much of the game I felt they were a ghost of the side they had once been. They still pass the ball relentlessly, but that old drive and tempo are not nearly as urgent.
“The breathtaking speed and penetration have gone. They won the game in injury time but even in those final stages they hardly created chances.
“When I try to find a way of summarising the attitude of the team, and of some longer-serving individuals, I keep alighting on the word “bored”.
Scholes also pointed out that Lionel Messi’s dominance isn’t as vibrant as it was during Pep’s era, he wrote:
“As for Messi, his achievements put him in a different category to the rest of us who played the game. But even so, in him, as much as anyone, I detected that mood of boredom.
“He has never been a player given to chasing the full-back when his team lose the ball, but now, more than ever, he keeps his movement to an absolute minimum.”