Rivaldo, FC Barcelona legend and Betfair ambassador, was pessimistic about the Barça team's participation in the Champions League, which he predicted a short time in continental competition seeing their start to the season. “After the El Clásico and how this year started, I can't find Barcelona from other years. I honestly don't have much faith in the team this season“, the Brazilian started.
“With all due respect to the coach and the club, Barcelona is not showing that chemistry, that energy to be able to fight for the Champions League or go far in the competition. Yes, of course he can still fight for LaLiga with Real Madrid and Atlético, because they have great players and because the jersey generates a lot of respect, but I am not so confident for his passage through Europe”Added the Betfair ambassador emphatically.
“The resignation of Bartomeu was inevitable”
Rivaldo also applauded Josep María Bartomeu's decision to resign as president of FC Barcelona. “It was inevitable that Bartomeu would have to resign. There were so many criticisms that it was the right decision to solve the club's crisis and let Barcelona move on“Rivaldo began to reflect.
“Bartomeu's future had generated great instability for Barcelona and for the club's management. Surely Bartomeu has sought the best, but the club needs stability and focus again on football. The longer this process had dragged on, the worse it would have been for Barcelona. Now we can all look only to the future and, above all, focus on football. “
“The VAR did not influence the Classic, it was a difficult decision”
Regarding the last Clásico, Rivaldo got wet in the relevance that Lenglet's penalty had on Sergio Ramos and that was pointed out at the request of the VAR.
“First of all, I have to say that I have never been in favor of VAR. And I keep saying it. I am against it because it continues to be inconsistent in its decisions. It does not add value to football and I do not see that it makes many good decisions ”, clarified the Betfair ambassador.
“But I must say that in this case it seemed like a very difficult decision. I don't know if it's a penalty or not, really. I can't guarantee it 100%. For this reason, because it was a difficult decision, I think that the VAR did not influence the outcome of the match, ”Rivaldo said.
“I imagine Messi and Cristiano playing until they are 40”
For the match against Juventus in the Champions League, Rivaldo believes that the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, still positive for COVID-19, will favor FC Barcelona. “This is good news for Barcelona because We all know the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo and his deep knowledge of Spanish football and Barcelona. He has always been very motivated against Barcelona and has scored many goals, so His presence is sure to give his teammates extra confidence“, he analyzed.
Despite the fact that a new duel between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be seen, Rivaldo asks for calm. He believes that one and the other will star in many more duels because, as happened to Rivaldo himself, they will last a long time in football. “It happens to them like me. Messi and Cristiano enjoy playing a lot and neither of them has a tendency to injure themselvesSo it wouldn't surprise me at all if they played football until they were 40 years old. They will surely have some opportunity to meet again in some other duel, with their clubs or with their national teams, “predicted the Betfair ambassador.
“Messi is playing well, but he can do better”
Rivaldo, despite the opinion of those who point to Messi's performance, defends the Argentine, although he also believes that he can improve. “I do think he's playing well. But it is that people are used to Messi scoring and attending regularly, and from that perspective, of course they may feel disappointed. Messi is playing well. He can do better, yes, and I think he will and that we will see the old Messi, whom we used to admire, “concluded the Betfair ambassador.