Barcelona believe the team is missing the presence of leader on the field and in the locker room – report

Barcelona have been caught in a bind this season, as performances and results have wavered considerably.

The Catalans trail behind Athletic Club, Real Madrid, and Girona in the league standings and were most recently handed a bitter reality check by their arch-rivals, Real Madrid.

The 4-1 defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final has weighed heavily on the Catalan giants, with the pressure reaching a boiling point within the club.

As such, Barça are in a self-reflection phase, identifying areas where the team lags behind and places of concern.

Leadership vaccum

Now, according to SPORT, the sporting side of the club is beginning to acknowledge the absence of a leadership figure in the team.

As per the information, Barcelona believes they are devoid of a personality capable of imposing authority in the locker room and on the field, where it is unclear to whom the ball should go when things get complicated.

The Catalans previously had Lionel Messi to fill that role, with the Argentine maestro renowned for taking matters into his own hands when confronted with a sudden and difficult scenario.

Even Sergio Busquets, to an extent, played the role of a mentor excellently, as his tranquil figure on the ball would ooze a sense of assurance.

However, this season, Barcelona have missed someone who can weather the storm in dire straits.

The defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico encapsulated the loss of such a figure, as Barça lacked an inspirational player to turn the tides around.

Sergi Roberto has been entrusted as the first-choice captain, but he has irregularly featured in the starting XI, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen is also unable to command the team’s morale on the field while guarding the sticks.