5 reasons why Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may not dominate in 2017/18

#4 Barcelona are a team in flux

UD Las Palmas v FC Barcelona - : News Photo — *We know Luis Enrique is leaving Barca but his replacement is a source of speculation*

While Messi remains a great talent, capable of winning games almost by himself at times, a great player can only truly dominate in a great team. Barcelona have been a great team for the past decade but going into 2017/18 it looks like they could be in flux.

2016/17 is the final year on the contract of current manager Luis Enrique, and the Spanish legend has already announced that he won’t be sticking around past June 30^th. In the past, Barcelona have been able to practically elevate from within the club – when Pep Guardiola left, his assistant Tito Vilanova was handed the job, and although Enrique was manager of Celta Vigo before Barcelona, by appointing him, it was still a case where Barca brought one of their own legends back into the fold.

Now though, Barca’s next manager seems to be a mystery. Current rumours suggest Athletic Bilbao’s Ernesto Valverde may take over, but nothing is confirmed and June 30^th is edging closer.

Throw in the speculation surrounding the future of Neymar after a fallout with coach Juan Carlos Unzue, and there can be no denying that difficult times might be in store for Barcelona. And with difficulty for Barca comes difficulty for Messi – can he really dominate the way he has done previously in a team with an apparently shaky future?

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

Know More

Edited by Staff Editor