Arsene Wenger: Barcelona 'play like a team in crisis' and 'wait for Messi to do something'

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was  a pundit for beIN SPORTS for yesterday's Champions League games. The French tactician was clearly unimpressed with Barcelona's unconvincing displays despite the Spanish giants maintaining their lead at the top of group F. His assessment of the team is that they rely too much on Lionel Messi for moments of magic and 'play like a team in crisis'. The La Liga giants were held to a 0-0 draw against Czech side Slavia Prague at Camp Nou yesterday night, and had earlier lost to Levante 1-3 in La Liga last weekend. 

Wenger told beIN SPORTS: "They’re top of the league, they’re top of their group, and they play like a team in crisis.

"Their game is too slow. There is no dynamic in the last 30 meters, it’s too individual.

"Every time they lose the ball, it looks like they will concede a goal on the counterattack because they cannot deal with pace against the opponent... the team lacks dynamic, lacks energy, lacks confidence.

"Today it looks like they play and they wait for Messi to do something, but the basic strengths of the team play is a bit gone.

"And you think, when will Messi get the ball to do something? And before, the music, the basic music, was the fantastic team play, making it difficult to catch the ball, and then on top of that came Messi."

Wenger admitted Blaugrana coach Ernesto Valverde was guilty for the team's performance, but implied the club's hierarchy may be even more to blame for the mess.

"At the end it’s always the coach who is guilty, he’s not always responsible," Wenger said. "There’s a difference between being guilty and responsible, you know?

"We said Valverde does not make the decision on who comes in. He has to do the best with what he has.

"So what we speak about raises many questions: who has the final word when you buy a player? Secondly, is this really the player that the team needs?"

Barcelona sits atop the La Liga charts, only separated from Real Madrid and Real Sociedad by goal difference. They may be able to extend their lead on Saturday when they host Celta Vigo.