Former Argentina captain Roberto Ayala has told La Nacion he believes the Barcelona side coached by Pep Guardiola had inadvertently damaged the art of defending.
Ayala stressed that the team of the 2008-2012 team was "the best I have seen in my life" but said their fluid style, with defenders bringing the ball out from the back, had caused some to lose sight of the most important part of their role.
The former AC Milan, Napoli, Valencia and Real Zaragoza defender said: "In a way, it has damaged football.
"Now many defenders want to play the ball out as if they were in Barcelona, and they're not able to. They're not centre midfielders.
"First of all you have to defend, to give security. You can't lose sight of the fact that they are defenders first."
He backed compatriot Lionel Messi over his recent decision to temporarily stand down from international football, saying: "I imagine that the criticism hurts him, more for a guy who gets better year after year but, with the seleccion, has not yet been able to win anything.
"Today we have Leo, and we do not know when a similar player is going to emerge. Maybe never, so enjoy it.
"If he plays poorly, he will be criticised, but we have all had one bad day."