Sooner or later it was bound to happen; the spotlight has turned, and is now focusing on the 'other side' of the club. Barcelona in recent seasons, have gone from European Champions, to a club now lacking enthusiasm, game plans and a leader; unthinkable when under the reigns of Pep and Tito, each post was filled to a high standard.
All Barcelona fans will like the fact the board is under pressure, this time however, it is increasingly worrying that our best player, and the world's greatest, Leo Messi has been drawn into the troubles on and off the pitch.
Going back a few years, we had Laporta as Club President. What he brought was sort of an ironic feature to Barcelona. During his reign, the club enjoyed their most successful seasons, winning Champions Leagues, La Ligas, Copas and much much more. He and Pep built a solid squad, the back bone - Valdes, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta. However, as mentioned, as successful as the team were, and as popular as Laporta was, his presidential campaign brought the club millions of debt, and eventually, the controversial figure of Sandro Rossell edged his way into the club to replace Laporta.
The club under Rossell were no doubt going places, a little slower than expected, and in a manner more misterious than before. Pep, the greatest manager in Barca's history, soon felt unsupported under the new board, and that lead him to take up manager at newly crowned Champions League winners Bayern. Zubizaretta, at this time, looked a promising addition to the Barca board. Signings such as Villa and Mascherano showed his influence and ability to sign quality players - after all, he was brought to the club by Pep.
However, following a semi-successful spell under Tata, the mood of the club changed. Tragedy truck the Barca camp, and the whole entire world of football when news broke of Tito's death. It was a tragic loss to the club, the manager only months ago won the league, securing the most points in Barcelona's liga history - something Pep couldn't even do.
Rossell's mishandling and lack of respect to another cancer battler in the form of Eric Abidal, who was eventually forced out the club, although promised a youth club roll in his retirement, didn't go down well with the fans. On top of this, a very mysterious signing in the form of Neymar - who Pep had passed up the opportunity to sign at Bayern because he himself wanted him at Barcelona, brought anger on the fans. Rossell did extremely well cutting down the club's debt in his time, but he lied to the fans about the Neymar deal, which still is uncertain was really happened.
The one thing Barca fans will thank Rose for is his resignation - which doesn't happen an awful lot in Spain. However, instead of new elections taking place, his close companion Bartomeu, who's expert field was Basketball, was placed as President - a move which angered Barcelona fans.
Now, seasons on and with ex player Luis Enrique in charge, a new dimension was brought to Barcelona, and Lucho aimed to build on the tactics and influence left by Pep and Tito. Last season brought great disappointment under the management of Tata, and in lack of better words - the club need a trophy this season. This is the reason why Leo Messi is upset. The club has become a laughing stock, where all focus has been on the board issues. Whilst other clubs have strengthened (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Man City, Bayern) Barcelona have in Messi's case, weakened. For example, Chelsea have transformed their team in the last few seasons. Ageing players like Lampard, Cole, Cech have all been replaced by better, youthful players. Barcelona however, despite £150 being pumped into club transfers under Lucho, have bought, but not wisely. Mathieu is the long awaited centre half we hadn't all been crying out for. To start with, he is not world class, he is a known smoker who enjoys a cigarette or two and his age means he can't play every game, nor cover at left back - as we saw in Lucho's failure to win a tactical battle against Madrid in the first Clasico. Another is Rakitic, who has proven himself to be a quality player in La Liga, but still, Xavi, who Enrique said was only going to get limited game time, started over him in the Clasico. These facts, as well as Lucho's inability to cement a starting 11 (17 different in 17 matches) makes Messi, and team mates believe their is no direction in which the club are heading.
Players are lacking belief, being mistreated (Montoya,Pique), players are being signed due to political reasons (Douglas) and there is clearly no plan B as we have seen this season in too many matches being drawn or lost without a serious effort being made.
The start of 2015 was a sour one for Barcelona, the mishandling of Neymar and Messi against La Real and now reports of tension between Leo and Lucho, does not bode well with the fact that this season - we need a trophy or two.
