Who is to blame for Barcelona's crisis?

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.

The mental block at Anfield is a problem for the team.

Although the coaching staff didn't work on it enough, the lack of reaction from players who have won it all is inexplicable, particularly for the clumsy fourth goal.

The technical secretary

Pep Segura has become an easy scapegoat, as he is perceived to be against the club's traditional style and instead focusing on physicality.

Yet it is his signings that have drawn him most criticism.

Last summer, he led the signings of Arturo Vidal, Clement Lenglet, Malcom and Arthur Melo and, whilst they have not been poor, only the first two have lived up to expectations, while Arthur's season has gone downhill after a bright start and Malcom has lacked opportunities.

In January, Murillo and Kevin-Prince Boateng joined on loan, one according to Valverde's wishes and another to Eric Abidal's, but neither has contributed anything, even if there wasn't a budget for much else.

The Board

As the highest figure at the club, Josep Maria Bartomeu has responsibility and his trust in Valverde has been clear, renewing his contract only months ago.

His support, sometimes too much for some players, means that he will now make a decision on the technical secretary, who leads the sporting side of the club.

His changes during his presidency in this position have been infinite, from Andoni Zubizarreta, Raul Sanllehi, Albert Soler, Robert Fernandez and a committee of Carles Rexach, Ariedo Braida, Jordi Mestre and Javier Bordas, and now to Pep Segura, Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes.

Source : Marca

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