Arsene Wenger: Former Arsenal boss says Barcelona are ‘playing like a team in crisis’ after Slavia Prague draw

Barcelona were held to a goalless draw by the Czech side on Tuesday

Arsene Wenger has criticised Barcelona for becoming too reliant on Lionel Messi (Arsenal FC via Getty)

Arsene Wenger has accused Barcelona of “playing like a team in crisis”.

The Catalan club were held to a goalless draw by Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday after slipping to a surprise defeat against Levante at the weekend.

And Wenger has suggested the club have become too reliant on Lionel Messi.

“(Despite being) leaders of La Liga and their Champions League group... they are playing like a team in crisis, because the play is too slow, without dynamism, and very individualistic in the final metres,” Wenger said on beIN Sports.

“When they lose the ball they could concede a goal on the counter because they aren’t closing down the space for the opponent.

“Barcelona are an interesting case because they have a history of brilliant collective team play and then they also had Leo Messi who made the difference. Today it seems they play expecting something from Messi.”

Manager Ernesto Valverde has been put under pressure by a number of poor results at the start of the season.

Valverde has thus far failed to get the best out of new signing Antoine Griezmann, while his style of play has been criticised, too.

Wenger wonders whether Barcelona’s recent failures in the premier European competition are impacting their performances.

“Before the music was beautiful, of a fantastic team waiting for Messi to appear.

“Today they have lost their charisma and you have to ask how much the last two Champions League failures have affected them.

“From outside it seems they’ve lost their charisma.”

Barcelona do top Group F with eight points from four games, and lead La Liga, though they are level on points with Real Madrid and Real Sociedad and have already lost three games in the league this season.