Lionel Messi has been told he has not played at the same high level for Barcelona since Pep Guardiola's departure from the club in 2012.
The Argentine forward was the lynchpin in Guardiola's side during the Man City managers time at the Nou Camp, and together they won 14 trophies over a four-year period.
From a personal perspective, Messi also earned four Ballon d'Or awards during Guardiola's reign, but has since gone on to win two more, despite Barcelona's perceived decline.
The last of those came only last year, but Ajax boss Erik ten Hag still believes Messi is no longer the player he once was.
"Messi was one of the leaders, but he also worked for the team and excelled as a result. He has never been as good as under Guardiola," Ten Hag told Voetbal International.
"Barcelona has not won much in European terms in recent years either.
"Messi still excels, but now also occasionally goes through the lower limit. It was never like that under Guardiola.
"Pep has guts, he dares to be pioneering and innovative."
Barcelona have only reached the Champions League final once since Guardiola moved on - in the 2014/15 season when they beat Juventus.
They were close to reaching last season's final, but for a second leg collapse in the semi-final against eventual winners Liverpool.
Messi had dragged his side into a commanding position with two goals in the first leg at the Nou Camp, but could do nothing about Liverpool's stunning comeback in the second.
During the tie he had an intense battle with Reds full-back Andy Robertson, who gave an insight into the ability the 32-year-old still possesses.
"The stuff he does with his feet are just frightening, you need to guess at times to defend against him," Robertson told That Peter Crouch Podcast.
"I remember he was at the byline at one point, and I thought 'he's just playing for a throw-in here, no problem...'
"But he's like dinked it inside somehow, and off he went inside of the park, switched the play, and I was like... no other human can do that!"
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