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Beginning of the end for Barca?

By CNN's Pedro Pinto

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(CNN) -- World Sport reporter Pedro Pinto reflects on Barcelona's rise and fall, following their shock cup defeat by Getafe.

Is it the beginning of the end? Nothing can last forever and Barcelona's days as Europe's top team seem to be numbered.

After a humiliating 4-0 defeat to lowly Getafe in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup, the Blaugrana are now running the risk of ending a season full of promise empty handed.

So how has something that was so sweet turned so sour? I have one word for you: Egos.

In the past two seasons, Barcelona could do no wrong. The Catalans won two Liga titles and captured the Champions crown after defeating Arsenal in Paris last May. Ronaldinho was considered to be the best player on the planet, and other stars such as Samuel Eto'o and Deco also picked up prestigious awards.

However, the story took a turn for the worse this year. Tired after a gruelling season and a disappointing World Cup, Ronaldinho was a shadow of himself.

Yes, he was still scoring goals, but he did so from dead ball situations, like penalties and free kicks. Since he was in a fragile physical state, the Brazilian's work rate during training sessions declined drastically, and some of his colleagues didn't appreciate it.

Namely Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroonian striker told the media that his goals should be more appreciated and that Ronaldinho's juggling and tricks could not win matches on their own.

This attitude by Eto'o, taking Barcelona's internal problems into the outside world, effectively created a division in the team's squad.

There were those who supported him, and then those who condemned him, mostly the Brazilian players like Beletti, Sylvinho, Edmilson and Thiago Motta.

The tension escalated in February after Eto'o was left on the bench for a league game against Racing Santander. The striker, who had recently returned from a knee injury, refused to come on in the last five minutes.

Ronaldinho saw this as his ideal opportunity to get back at his colleague, and after the match told the media that some people (Eto'o) should put the team interests above themselves.

The fiery Eto'o reacted the following day, accusing the Brazilian of also being selfish and conceited. He went a step further and revealed that the Barcelona camp was split.

Eventually, the two players seemed to iron out their problems and made up in front of the cameras. However, their performances on the field told a different story.

They weren't communicating like they once did. And they weren't celebrating goals together like they once did.

While they were winning, everything was just fine. But after the Champions League elimination at the hands of Liverpool and several unexpected defeats in the league, a barrage of criticism from the media erupted.

Now, after their heavy defeat to Getafe, they need team unity and spirit more than anything else if they are going to salvage anything from this campaign.

The question is, is there enough love in the air at the Camp Nou to heal the wounds? This reporter doesn't think so...

Can Barca turn their season around? Fan Zone wants to hear from you. Send you thoughts and opinions to the Football Fan Zone

Your e-mails

From: Edwin Korboe, Tema, Ghana
Date: 22 May 2007
Comment:
I think Barca will beat Madrid to the title in the last but one game in the league. GO BARCA!

From: Mustafa Ahmed, Saint Joseph, MI
Date: 14 May 2007
Comment: Pedro, it's funny that only a couple of days earlier I was thinking of the same situation. Can Barca save their season? Maybe. Madrid have a slightly easier schedule than Barca and Sevilla has the hardest of the three, plus momentum is with Fabio Capello's side. But even if they scrap through and win La Liga, the season can hardly be called a success because of all the reasons you addressed. All the politics that have been going on in the team as well as the management, is not helping in anyway. I am sure of one thing however, and that is that some major changes are coming up in the off season, most probably starting with the manager. Look what happened to Madrid after the threat of being fired. Capello has taken the team to a new level. You used the word 'ego' and that sums it all. However I thought I would never say this, but I think if Barca has to get rid of one of the two, I would go for Ronaldinho. With Messi around I think they have an ample replacement, although he plays on the other side. Also with Saviola going to Madrid, they need Eto'o up front. Big changes are a coming, Pedro. Brace yourself. But this year belongs to Sevilla and I really hope they get their treble.

From: Saba Meidany, Johannesburg, South Africa
Date: 15 May 2007
Comment:
Barcelona... In my opinion if one were to look at clubs on the basis of the quality of the individual team members we cannot find anyone that comes close to Barca -- maybe Chelsea or Milan. However as was proven this season, the media can totally put a different spin on issues within the club and make that the focus of the club. In my opinion a lot of the media has always tended to favour clubs such as Manchester United and Chelsea ($$$) and of course ever since "bend it like Mr Hollywood" moved there, why not add Real Madrid to that list? So it does not suprise me that a lot of bad mouthing has been done to Barcelona's team credibility and therefore affected the psyche of the players. But Barcelona is "mes que un club" -- so I have a feeling we can still win it even if it will come down to the last match.

From: Moray Findlay, Paramaribo
Date: 15 May 2007
Comment:
Real Madrid are surely the bigger club when it comes to marketing and football history. Real madrid is the richest club in the world, they won a lot more trophies, in Spain and Europe, than Barcelona. It is true that Real Madrid have been in poor form the last three years but they are coming back. Look at them now, they are at the top of La Liga. So in the years to come Real Madrid will be back.

From: Mario Goncalves, Lobito
Date: 13 May 2007
Comment:
I think Eto'o must leave Barca, he probably thinks he's doing a lot for the team and that's bad for a soccer player! And the reason why Barca is so down this season is because of players like him complaning instead of playing... Ronaldinho must go to Manchester to play with Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs that!!!

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