How strong would these teams be if you took away their star player…
Liverpool’s indifferent form so far this season would suggest that the Reds reliance on former star man Luis Suarez may have been greater than onlookers realised. But how many of Europe’s biggest sides are one-man teams?
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Reports in the Daily Mirror carried Suarez’s claims, with the Barcelona man saying he was Liverpool’s driving force last season, and that he would not have made a title bid and secured a Champions League place without him.
CaughtOffside picks twelve of Europe’s biggest teams, and decides whether they could survive without their star player:
12) Juventus – Andrea Pirlo
Juventus are blessed with a wide variety of midfield options, and also have the likes of Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal on their books. Playing in a league they already dominant, the loss of one player shouldn’t stop their success.
11) Borussia Dortmund – Marco Reus
Like Liverpool, Dortmund have struggled this season without their main man – former striker Robert Lewandowski. One of the top contenders to take his place as the main man, Marco Reus, has been struggling with injuries.
10) Liverpool – Raheem Sterling
Liverpool’s form has certainly suffered with the loss of their Uruguayan talisman. The teenage wingers has stepped up again this year, but there is no way the Reds can rely on him as heavily as they did Suarez.
9) Arsenal – Aaron Ramsey
The Welsh midfielder has yet to rediscover last season’s form, and that has done little to help his team, who have endured a mixed start to the season. However, the Gunners are far from reliant on just one player, and have plenty of options.
8) Atletico Madrid – Arda Turan
The Spanish giants lost Diego Costa to Chelsea this summer, but they still rank among Europe’s elite, with a well balance side that has plenty of options in almost every position. They are far from a one man team.
7) Manchester United – Angel di Maria
Where would United be without their new record signing, who is almost dragging them back into form on his own. The Argentine winger, formerly of Real Madrid, is crucial to their chances of success this season, linking the play and scoring goals.
6) Paris Saint Germain – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
PSG have struggled this season, and one of their major issues has been the absence of their Swedish striker. Edinson Cavani has struggled to fill his boots, and it appears the French giants are lost without their main man.
5) Manchester City – David Silva
While Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure both have strong claims to be City’s key player, the man they’d be most lost without is Spanish midfielder David Silva, who keeps his team ticking with his exceptional passing abilities.
4) Bayern Munich – Arjen Robben
The Dutch midfielder has been the main source of inspiration for the German champions for several years, with much of their good play coming through him. However, the club have plenty of options, and would no doubt cope with the loss.
3) Chelsea – Eden Hazard
Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder is hopeful of one day ranking among the world’s best players, and the Blues reliance on him as their playmaker in chief is only likely to increase. Luckily, manager Jose Mourinho has plenty of options at his disposal.
2) Barcelona – Lionel Messi
The Argentine wizard has been the Catalan’s star for over a decade, and many exceptional players have come and gone at the club due to the club’s desire to always keep their main man in his favoured position. They are never quite the same without him.
1) Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo
The world player of the year would be missed at any club, and despite Madrid’s army of world class players, he is probably the one name they would struggle to cope without. Of course, he’s now nearing 30, and it will be interesting to see who will eventually replace him.
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