FC Barcelona has been knocked out of the Champions League yet again, and it was another brutal mix of chaos and typical deja vu. The season that looked so promising for the Catalans and was thought to be the end of the Champions League curse is doomed due to a leaky Barcelona defence. Was it just bad luck, tactical mistakes or some other deeper issues? Let’s dissect this painful experience.
Why Can’t Barcelona Hold a Lead in Europe?
Barcelona, no matter how good they are, cannot hold a lead in Europe. In fact, it’s rare that they even get a lead in the first place. The Catalans have always been defensively fragile, but yesterday, it was a joke. Imagine conceding from a 37-year-old center-back, Francesco Acerbi, in the 93rd minute while your ace defender could just watch.
That goal was not bad luck. Ronald Araujo conceded that goal due to amateurish marking. Barca’s right-back Eric Garcia, who was quite solid yesterday, showed frustration in post match interview and it was valid. The offensive displays were brilliant, but defensive solidity was equally poor. Flick’s high-pressing system left gaps, and Inter feasted on them. Barcelona just couldn’t let go of their attacking mentality, even when leading the game 3-2 and just two minutes away from a UCL finale. Flick’s team had to defend at that point, but they did not.
Too Young to Win? The Never-Ending Transition Year Excuse
Eric Garcia, in his post-match talk, called this as another transition year. I, personally, am sick of this excuse. This was supposed to be Barca’s breakthrough year in the UCL. Yes, we had a team of kids, like Yamal and Cubarsi, but these kids have already won multiple individual and team accolades already. They have proven themselves against the best teams and made their mark already in professional football.
So giving a transition year excuse is not valid at all. Flick knew he was playing with fire with this high line. The bad luck was that Inigo Martinez, who has been Barca’s best defender this season, had to come off for Araujo. The come-back was complete, it was just that neither Araujo could prove himself, nor Szczesny could make game-winning saves like Sommer did for Inter Milan.
Will Hansi Flick Finally Let go of the High Line?
Believe it or not, we all were fearful of Flick’s high line from the start. Flick’s attack attack attack mentality crashed spectacularly last night. Yes, Barca scored three goals in 34 minutes, but at what cost? The full-backs consistently pressed high and this left acres for Inter’s counters. Barca refused to adjust according to the game’s demand at the end, and that’s why the Blaugrana lost.
Flick might not let go of these tactics, and I support him for this. However, he should know when to be flexible and when to be rigid. Balance is crucial, especially in the UCL where small mistakes can mount to disastors.
Barcelona’s UCL nightmare continues, 10 years and counting. Will this bad dream ever end?