'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lionel Messi
After everything is said and done, you still have to consider Lionel Messi. You can talk about tactics, psychology and pressure all you want. Once he gets into that zone, it's practically impossible for teams to beat Barça over a league season.
Much has been made about Leo's scoring drought in the past four league games, his worst run since November 2013. In this time, he has contributed to 7 out of the last 8 goals in La Liga for Barça. The standards that have been set for him are stratospheric. It's easy to overlook the fact that he remains the top-scorer (14) and the player with the highest assists (12) in the league this season. This is after the injury-enforced absence of almost 2 months.
His self-awareness comes through as he has realised that his finishing hasn't been up to his usual standards. He has stepped back and turned provider instead, understanding that the goals will come in time. As long as he's fit and firing, Barça can rest easy knowing they are in safe hands.
As Real Betis coach, Setién famously said that he would cry when Messi retires. Fortunately for him, there's still some time for that.
