A pissed off Lionel Messi known as for change after Barcelona handed the La Liga title to Real Madrid on Thursday, warning the group will lose within the Champions League as nicely in the event that they fail to enhance. Barca’s title problem ended with a whimper at Camp Nou, the place they have been crushed 2-1 by Osasuna whereas Madrid’s 2-1 victory at residence to Villarreal ensured they have been topped Spanish champions. Defeat will increase the stress on coach Quique Setien, who took over in January with Barcelona sitting prime of the desk.
Membership president Josep Maria Bartomeu has stated Setien will stay in cost for the Champions League next month, when Barca play their second leg at residence to Napoli, with the last-16 tie within the stability at 1-1.
“The sensation of the group is that it tries however cannot do it, that we go away so much to be desired in lots of areas and right this moment within the first half I believe they have been higher than us,” Messi stated after the loss to Osasuna.
“I stated way back that if we continued on this manner, it might be very troublesome to win the Champions League and that has been proven to be the case in La Liga too.
“If we wish to battle for the Champions League we should change so much as a result of in any other case the match in opposition to Napoli, we are going to lose that as nicely.”
Messi scored a superb free-kick in opposition to Osasuna nevertheless it was not sufficient. Madrid pulled seven factors away from Barcelona forward of Sunday’s ultimate spherical of video games.
“We did not count on or wish to end like this nevertheless it virtually sums up the entire 12 months,” stated Messi. “We’ve been very inconsistent, very weak, crushed on depth or want.
“They created probabilities very simply and scored. Throughout the entire 12 months we now have been inconsistent and we now have misplaced a whole lot of factors the place we should not have. This recreation confirmed what this 12 months has been about for us.”
‘We’ve to be self-critical’
Messi has been crucial of the board this season and recommended everybody on the membership ought to take their share of the blame.
“After the break Madrid haven’t misplaced any video games they usually deserve credit score for that however we now have additionally helped them so much,” stated Messi.
“We misplaced a whole lot of video games that we must always not have misplaced and we now have to be self-critical, beginning with the gamers, nevertheless it needs to be a complete self-criticism from everybody as a result of we’re Barcelona and we’re obliged to win the matches no matter occurs and as an alternative have a look at us.”
If Barcelona come by way of in opposition to Napoli, they’ll face Bayern Munich within the final eight, with a compressed format of single legs right through to the ultimate.
Promoted
“I believe we’d like somewhat air, this break will likely be good for us, to clear our heads, overlook about all the things that has occurred,” stated Messi.
“It has been very dangerous from December till now however it’s the Champions League and there are 4 video games that can provide you a trophy that all of us need. However we now have to vary so much and be very self-critical.”
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