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In his first meeting with Valverde last summer, Messi told the incoming Barca boss: "I need a team around me." On Tuesday night, however, the collective effort fell short and the 30-year-old cut a frustrated figure as he was starved of service and also the ball.
 
The brilliance of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner may be enough in domestic competitions, but against the top teams and coaches in Europe, it is not, and that has shown in exits against Atletico Madrid (twice), Juventus and now Roma, as well as in last season's 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
 
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At this level, a better attacking plan is needed, while Valverde baffled Barca fans by leaving summer signing Ousmane Dembele out of the line-up in both games against Roma and only bringing on the France forward for the last five minutes on Tuesday.
 
Smarter rotation and squad management

Winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey is great, but a domestic double will quickly lose its sparkle for Barcelona if fierce rivals Real Madrid go on to claim the Champions League for a third season in a row.
 
Zinedine Zidane's side were desperately disappointing in the first half of the Primera Division campaign and suffered an embarrassing cup exit at the hands of Leganes, yet they have clearly mastered the art of peaking at the right time in the continental competition.
 
While Barca have expended a lot of energy with a smaller squad in advancing in the Copa and picking virtually the same side every week in La Liga, Madrid are now primed for another assault on the coveted European trophy.
 
With La Liga wrapped up some time ago, Valverde could have used some of his fringe players in La Liga, because many of the starters now look worn out when it matters most – just as they did against Atletico in their exit two seasons ago.
 
With La Liga wrapped up some time ago, Valverde could have used some of his fringe players in La Liga, because many of the starters now look worn out when it matters most – just as they did against Atletico in their exit two seasons ago.
 
Did an ageing Iniesta really need to start as many games as he has this term? Why was an injured Gerard Pique allowed to play for Spain in the recent international break? Why has Philippe Coutinho not started every game in La Liga when he is cup-tied for the Champions League? Should Rafinha, Gerard Deulofeu, Javier Mascherano and Arda Turan have all been allowed to leave in January?
 
Fatigue is one of the reasons for Barca's Champions League exit and while it is clear that the Blaugrana need a stronger squad, Valverde should also have used his hand more intelligently to ensure his players were not this tired at the business end of the season.
 
Time to toughen up

Barcelona were battered and bullied by a Roma side that pressed high on Tuesday night, pushing the Blaugrana back and triumphing in a physical battle at the Stadio Olimpico.
 
Even now, there is still the feeling that this Blaugrana side can be intimidated by stronger, taller and more powerful rivals and in Europe that has happened a number of times now in recent seasons.
 
Still one of the smallest sides in Europe in terms of average height, Barca looked second best up against a hungry Roma team on Tuesday and in a game that was always likely to be intense, Paulinho could have provided more of a physical presence in midfield.
 
Roughed up by Atletico twice, Juventus and also PSG in years gone by, Barca should have been better prepared for the physical battle they were to face in Rome on Tuesday night. But they were not.
 
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