Barca's dilemma with Busquets, Pique and Jordi Alba

The truth is that Barcelona are going through a period of transition. After being thrashed by PSG, the Catalans basically said goodbye to their hopes of winning the Champions League and they will now have to focus on La Liga and Copa del Rey. They are still alive in both competitions, but winning them will not be easy. 

In the meantime, the club want to make new signings and renew players' contracts. They also have to decide on certain players such as Busquets, Pique and Jordi Alba. 

The three footballers have been indispensable in recent years. The central defender, who was not at his best against the Parisian outfit due to his rushed return to injury, can still be important in defence. However, his return after a long lay off casts doubt over his performances in the short and medium term. 

The most complex situation could be that of Busquets. The midfielder has ended up being the best in the world in his position, but his performances have dropped in recent seasons. This term, the Catalans remains a starter for Koeman and has put in great performances, but the pace of the big matches usually becomes too much for him. He does not seem to be able to cope physically with the demand. 

Lastly, Jordi Alba, Messi's best partner down the left, is still putting in memorable performances, but he is no longer the pacy and electric full back which joined Barca from Valencia. In addition, he was often caught out in defence against PSG. Kean was a headache for him. 

Busquets' contract expires in 2023 while Pique and Alba's in 2024. The club must decide what to do with them. The transition began with the departure of two big names in Suarez and Rakitic. The trio are legends at the club, but the new president, together with his team, must decide what the best solution is in order to make Barcelona a team which people fear in Europe.