In the giant duel of the Europa League, FC Barcelona drew the short straw. After the knockout at Manchester United, the Spanish media are harsh on Lewandowski and Co.
Manchester/Barcelona – In the domestic league, FC Barcelona is at the top by a large margin, in Europe the proud Catalans have said goodbye in the second round of the Europa League. In the anticipated final against Manchester United, coach Xavi’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat and had to bow out after the 2-2 draw in the first leg.
FC Barcelona ejects against ManUnited – “from disaster to disaster”
The narrow defeat in Old Trafford in front of around 77,000 spectators is the next sporting setback on the European stage after missing the goal of the round of 16 in the Champions League (in the FC Bayern group). This means that the club of ex-FCB striker Robert Lewandowski is once again losing millions of dollars that are necessary to maintain the overpriced squad.
The local media are accordingly not very squeamish about FC Barcelona and put their finger in the wound. “From one disaster to the next since the final in Berlin,” the newspaper headlined Sport about the renewed failure of the team around Lewandowski and the German national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Champions League, Europa League – Barcelona has nothing more to report in Europe
In the German capital, the glorious Barca last clinched a European title when they defeated Juventus in the final (3-1). The plays on the financial need Brand and writes of a “disaster with consequences” due to the immense expenses before the season – despite an overwhelmingly high debt burden. “Barcelona will have problems staying the course.” AS alludes to the financial damage after the knockout at ManUnited: “The end creates another gap in the budget.”
FC Barcelona in financial difficulties: “Journey through the desert could be long”
Coach Xavi promptly places his hopes in the next European Cup season: “Then we want to be competitive and show that we can keep up.” For financial reasons, however, major changes could be made to the squad: “Should the most ominous summer forecasts come true and the team have to give up players, everything indicates that the journey through the desert will be very long,” says the Brand out of.
Robert Lewandowski, who was able to give Barcelona the lead in the duel of the former Champions League winners with a penalty kick, is focusing on the remaining title chances in the league and cup. “We are disappointed,” says the Polish goalgetter via Instagram – “but we can still win titles this season.”
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