It's not really the fault of the players. It's a known rule in the team that X player needs to be passed all the time. It's not a conspiracy theory. In Barca, there is no doubt that all players feel the pressure of having to pass to Messi whenever he seems like he's asking it.
This is known even since the days of Guardiola. Guardiola didn't like progression up the line, Alves confessed (for good reason). But he still did it because Messi was starting to get annoyed and disconnected from the game if he wasn't passed to a lot. So, Messi wants to be passed to all the time. Now amplify that 10 times, and you start to get the picture.
So, the real issue is Barca players feel they have to pass to Messi whenever he asks it, no matter if better passes are available at the time. It's the club signaling them that if you pass to Messi, you'll be well looked at. Messi will like you, and your position in the team will be great. If not, you'll be a pariah and your days will be numbered. Smart players learn very fast that passing to Messi a lot is a quick and effecting way to becoming a big name in the team. Vidal learned it immediately and earned himself a high status in the team in no time.
I'll tell you something, if Griezmann refused to pass to Messi or Suarez in a game, like they blatantly refused to pass him when he was open in a much better position, he would've been out. But you have clown fans who say Messi should not pass to Griezmann even when he makes a great run, because he's shit.
You just can't win when you are up against such toxic mentality.
So, this is not about players wanting themselves to set up Messi all the time, which would indeed show a deference of responsibility form the players to Messi. This is a problem of players being made to feel constantly that they have to pass to Messi, by Messi's actions and how the club handles itself in relation to Messi. It's clear Messi runs Barca for me, not only the team now, but even the club. He threatened to leave, and many idiots protested on the streets.
. Now Bartomeu is about to be gone. Just because Messi went against him.
Only way out is Messi not being extended. Or Messi not backtracking and leaving at the end of the season. But I have the feeling that the club will continue to bow down to Messi and act as Messi's toy for 2-3 more years. I hope I'm wrong. Blind fans kid themselves that Messi doesn't like being in such a commanding position in the club.
. Lol. Why would he, he's only the no1 person in the club with huge power. He was threatening Tata Martino with his job and the club protected this behavior for years and years. Because of millions of Messi-fanatics who think this is not a big deal, Martino is shit, Griezmann is shit, all are shit, and Messi is GOD and what he does is great.
