Barcelona are less feared without Messi admits Koeman.
The club’s most prolific goalscorer has left the Spanish giants for PSG and has left a huge void in the Barcelona squad.
The club’s manager Ronald Koeman admits that the opponents feared more when the team had Messi in it.
Barcelona held a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club after Memphis Depay struck a late equalizer and the game left Barca with four points from two games.
“I don’t like to always talk about the same thing, but we’re talking about the best in the world. Our opponents had more fear when Messi was here,” Koeman said.
“For us as well, if you pass the ball to Leo, usually he won’t lose it. You can tell [Messi] isn’t there. We know that and we can’t change it.”
“The pressed us a lot and well. We need to know when we can play short, from the keeper as well. We weren’t calm enough in the first 15 minutes,” he added.
“I think a draw is a fair result, we had chances to win, Athletic were at a very high level. Playing like that, this is a very tough ground, so I can’t be unhappy with the result.”
See More; Top 5 Barcelona Transfers: Players to be sold in Summer 2021
