CHAPTER 97: Ronaldinho Must Raise the Tempo

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” - Alexander the Great

Living life, it's difficult to live.
But more so if you are Ronaldinho, it's even harder than most of us mortals would know.

The past few months, ever since the World Cup (perhaps even from the moment when the final of last season’s Champions League was contested), a lot of issues have been raised concerning the form and performance from the player who had been heralded as the best footballer for the past two years by FIFA. Ronaldinho it seems (to some people), has not been putting much effective gameplay especially in Barcelona’s attack. There are still showcases of skills and as well as showboating moves, but not really making moves that greatly daunts the opposition players.

First in discussing about Ronaldinho, there is not much important matter to begin with than mentioning Ronaldinho’s form.

It’s virtually evident that his performances during the past World Cup does not even need to be mentioned. As surely any football fans would know and bring up their own analysis as to why the Brazilian did not shine (albeit that one of the factors being Parreira mis-tactically deployed him in the Selecao’s formation).
For me, I think that fatigue would be one of the reasons as to why Ronaldinho’s form had dipped. Coming from an exhaustive season last season with Barça (where Ronaldinho’s presence and exploits throughout the season was very important in the success of the club), and with the World Cup happening and Barcelona’s pre-season tour in the USA, for sure it’s has taken a toll on Ronaldinho. And not forgetting the World Cup itself, for sure emotionally it dismayed Ronaldinho himself………
Personally, I find it alarming that the Brazilian still has not been effective in football yet for Barça.
In official games, ranging from the conclusion of last season’s club games, to the World Cup up until the beginning of the new football season, the only outstanding piece of individual play from Ronaldinho (for me), was the goal he scored against Levski Sofia (which was a nice goal by the way). Other than that, he didn’t (or couldn’t) score a goal in the World Cup, and he’s not been impressive in the important games that Barcelona has played this season (especially in the defeat to Sevilla in the European Super Cup and recently in the 1-1 draw against Valencia in La Liga. There’s also the 1-1 draw Barça managed to muster against Werder Bremen).

I think that it is true that Ronaldinho had come out to the press these past few weeks stating that’s he’s ‘not a machine’. It’s a very true statement (no one can be the best or show he’s the best all the time, that’s just impossible), but it’s just that there’s so many pressure on Ronaldinho to always deliver the best for both club and country.
Which brings to the second point…….pressure.
Anyhow, I don’t want to dwell much on this point. Everybody professional footballer (or sportsman) will have to overcome pressure anyway and at any point or situation, and I’m sure that in the case of Ronaldinho, and him being Ronaldinho, he’s got the class and repertoire to bring himself back up again in the game (as there’s a saying that goes in football, “form is temporary, class is permanent”). The only question is when will he rise up again…..
The last point that I want to bring up regarding Ronaldinho’s deteriority in performance is perhaps he has lost a lil’ bit of drive in football. I mean, maybe the paychecks he’s been getting from Barça, Nike and all the other sponsors of his is getting fatter, that could have clouted his mind and in turn hinders his gameplay. Then there’s the talk from some newspapers stating that during the World Cup, Ronaldinho sneaked off his bed time from Brazil’s hotel just to meet up with his girlfriend (as well as the story that he’s too hooked up on Playstation). And let’s not forget that at his current point in his footballing career, Ronaldinho has already achieved among the highest honors in world football. The World Cup, the Champions League, being a Spanish League champion, also having a Copa America’s winners’ medal. And there’s also the glory of being awarded FIFA World Footballer of the Year two years running, and also being awarded the Ballon D’or last year. Could all of these matters affected Ronaldinho negatively?
Alas, only Ronaldinho himself knows. The press and we football or sporting fans can only speculate.
Anyhow, how he had been ‘deteriorating’ over the past few months, it would tamper with the chances of Ronaldinho being awarded the individual wards come the end of this year (where basing on the last World Cup, I think Cannavaro and Zidane seems to be the front runners).

Whatever it is, it’s crucially imperative that Ronaldinho must raise the tempo. For Barcelona, for Brazil, for his supporters, and also for the good of football. I believe that now Frank Rijkaard has got an important role in making Ronaldinho positive again (and I think that he done rightfully done so by defending Ronaldinho in the press).

Rijkaard would be an important figure to get Ronnie back on track

And judging from Brazil’s recent match against Ecuador, ‘Ronnie’ shown some glimpses of his old self. An assist to Kaka, and having freekicks that hit the crossbar twice, hopefully it would spur the rise of Ronaldinho again.
Beginning this weekend, it will be a very, very tough schedule for Futbol Club Barcelona, as there’s the important matches coming forward (beginning with the game against Sevilla at Camp Nou, following with the ‘mega’ clashes against Chelsea midweek at Stamford Bridge and against Real Madrid at the Bernabeau on next weekend), and there’s no better time or crucial moment for Ronaldinho to strut his stuff and magic again for Barça.
With Samuel Eto’o out for a lengthy period of time, therefore it is of utmost importance that Ronaldinho plays out an enormous part in Barça’s attack, as for now, the impetus and major inspiration of the attack would need to be brought out by the Brazilian.
This coming few months will surely see some of the toughest moments that Ronaldinho Gaucho would have to face, both for club and country, but its all part and parcel of being a great footballer.

If all goes well, you can be sure that when he’s back at his best and delivering the footballing zest of his, that buck-toothed smile of his will be on TVs and newspapers pictures worldwide once more.


~ Image sources: SPORT, elentorno.com

*** Check out My Sportingo article of this Chapter: Enigma of a Brazil-iant talent