The Ball Man

It is a season that has called for reflection on who is to blame. All those responsible for the club's crisis are outlined below. Ernesto Valverde For now, the focus is on the coach who failed to psychologically prepare his team to face the difficulties at  Anfield  that overcame them in Rome a year before. He was then was incapable of recovering his team for the Copa del Rey final weeks later. His line-up for the final fixture of the season was excessively conservative and he started three players just returning from injury, including  Philippe Coutinho , who has been almost undroppable despite his woeful form. Yet there is no logic in keeping the Brazilian in the side in big games other than to avoid his value falling even further. The players Nobody emerges unblemished other than  Lionel Messi . At  Anfield , he created three golden chances which should have put his team in the Champions League final, while he scored and hit the post against  Valencia .

Lionel Messi talks Ernesto Valverde and Liverpool ahead of Copa del Rey final Messi on Copa del Rey This is a final, the chance to end the season with a title and finish the season, despite everything, in a positive fashion, with another title. We are all aware that this is a final and if we don’t win, we will be a lot worse than we are now. We have to try and overcome what has happened and try to win. Messi on Valverde I think Valverde has done an impressive job all the time he’s been here. In the game against Liverpool he was hardly to blame for anything. We as the players are to blame. We played a shocking game. Of course I would like him to carry on. Last year, we won a double, it was a little stained by the loss in Rome. This year, we can win another double and it is an even bigger stain. But if you think about it, it is only two games. Messi on Golden Shoe I am honestly not even thinking about the European Golden Shoe. It’s not in my head at al

Barca have not lifted the European Cup since 2015 and have been dumped out of the competition after embarrassing losses in recent seasons. Image : UEFA Xavi thinks it is the style of play that is to blame and feels his team need to dominate possession once again if they are to be crowned European champions. “I think Barcelona have to dominate games again, otherwise it is impossible to win the Champions League,” he said. ”That’s what history tells us as Barcelona first won the Champions League when they were winning LaLiga [Santander] and dominating matches. ”I think that now we aren’t dominating [games] much.” Source | TV3

Real Madrid is going to announce the €100m signing of Eden Hazard after the Europa League final. Image Via : GMS Hazard teased Chelsea fans a few days back during Chelsea's end of season ceremony when he hinted he would sign a new contract. However, after Chelsea finished their Premier League campaign on Sunday, Hazard stated that his decision on his future has been made. "I have made my decision but it is not just about me," Hazard "I told the club a couple of weeks ago. "I wanted it to be cleared up earlier but that's not happened. I'm still waiting, like the fans are waiting. "We have a final to play and then I will see. It has never been a distraction. When you are on the pitch, you try to be focused on the pitch with the ball. That's it. "When I am on the pitch I just try to do the best. I am not thinking about this and this, my situation or the club's situation. I just try to win games." And