Barcelona: "Messi's only human, he doesn't like losing" - Dani Alves
Angry at how the team surrendered LaLiga to Real Madrid, Lionel Messi was right to say what is wrong with Barcelona, says former team mate Dani Alves.
Lionel Messi is only human and needs more support from Barcelona if the team is to return to become successful, says former team-mate Dani Alves. Messi was clearly unhappy when he Thursday's 2-1 defeat at home to Osasuna while Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1 to clinch the title. The Argentina ace warned that Barça will face Champions League elimination to Last 16 rivals Napoli if they do not improve their performances and claimed fans were "losing patience".
Dani Alves thinks Messi understands only too well what is wrong with the current side, having enjoyed so much success during his 16-year career at Camp Nou.
Messi can't be expected to do everything on his own - Alves
"Leo is a natural winner," the Brazilian told Catalunya Radio. "He doesn't like losing. When the team loses, it's normal he gets angry, he always wants to win. Just like me. We always want to win. He's been doing what he does for so long, he knows when a team gives one thing and when it gives another. That's why he says what works and what doesn't because he knows. He's spent so many years at Barça, experienced so many things, and he knows exactly what the team needs to win. He sees what I feel, and that's a lack of support. I'll always say that Messi is the main course and we were the perfect ingredients for that plate. Now I have the feeling that he's doing everything, all the time, and we must remember he's only human."
Current Barcelona side is ordinary
Dani Alves won 23 major trophies alongside Messi, including six league titles and three Champions Leagues, during a glittering Barça career. Now, the São Paulo full-back thinks Quique Setién's side are just another team without the star quality that made them great in the past.
"What this Barça lacks is the identity it has always had, like Ronaldinho's Barça , our Barça," he explained. "The identity of a team that dominates for 90 minutes, 100 minutes, or 150 minutes. Barça are there for people to enjoy. Now what I see, from the outside, is that Barça are just another team. They used to have an understanding throughout the team and made things look easy."