I can't lie to you brothers, I can't sleep, I can't sleep, what keeps me awake is the fact WHY couldn't they defend for 3 MINUTES? Oh man, 3 MINUTES, WHY did they feel the need to go on the counterattack, to shoot at goal, to do ANYTHING ELSE instead of playing to pass the time? In the match against Atletico, which ended 1-0, in the last 10 minutes, they played to pass the time, why didn't they do the same? It should have been our qualification.
I really want PSG to beat them in the final.
I am still angry.
I haven't been this angry since 2005' when Rijkaard's Barca lost to Mou's Chelsea 4:2.
We were the best team in the world in that moment, played the most exciting football.
But we were also struck with injuries (Larsson, Gabri, Edmilson, Motta, all with broken knee ligaments).
In the first leg we were losing 0:1.
Then Drogba got the red card.
And we turned into an epic 2:1 win with goals from Etoo and Maxi Lopez.
We had like 25 shots or something.
In the 2nd leg, iirc, we were missing even Rafa Marquez who was playing as a pivot since our first options as pivots: Edmilson and Motta were out for a season.
So, we lacked a defensive solidity and Rijkaard picked the lightest midfield ever, consisting of Gerard Lopez, Deco, Xavi, paired with young Iniesta as a Rw instead of Guily, who was also missing.
An analogy would be: imagine a midfield of Pedri, Coutinho, Puig trying to defend against motivated thugs.
To make it short, for 90 minutes, every tackle and duel in midfield looked like Martin's reaction in the 94th minute.
We were just falling down, getting bullied and being naive in every single duel.
We were 3:0 down after 25 minutes because we went out and played a naive, Barca's attacking football, without midfield and with defensively weak fullbacks in Belletti and Van Bronckhorst.
The match was a nightmare.
In spite of all, we turned around 0:3 into 2:3 with 2 Ronaldinho's goals.
Only to concede near the end, by Terry, after a corner.
So:
1. we were down 0:1 in the first leg
2. we turned it around into 2:1
3. we were 0:3 down in the 2nd leg
4. we turned it around into 2:3 (4:4 on aggreggate and going through on away goals rule)
5. only to concede again after a corner and lose 4:5 on aggreggate
Ok, next year we won it.
But in 2006, Rijkaard again played against Chelsea and this time he played super cautious.
Without high line and with a way more defensive approach.
This time we played with only 1 fullback, Van Bronckhorst and on the right, we played with a CB Oleguer instead of a true fullback, to get a stronger defense (since young Messi started in attack).
Our midfield was Motta, Edmilson, Deco.
So, compared to a year before, we played with 2 defensive midfielders and Oleguer as an extra Cb as a Rb.
This time we won 2:1.
And in the 2nd leg, we haven't played attacking.
We played extra-cautious for 90 minutes and it ended 1:1.
Since our other "true Champions league" titles were with Messi in 2009, 2011 and 2015, it is hard to tell whether Barca won or Messi won them by himself.
In that sense, 2006's title is the most comparable title to the current Barca.
We could even say that without Messi, Barca has never won a CL except in 2006' (since in 1992, that was a different format with only 1 club from each country).
My point: the question remains: can Barca actually won a CL without Messi with playing 100% Barca's style?
Stats say: extremely rarely.
And even when we won, like in 2006', we won it with a mixture of Barca's football paired with Rijkaard's Italian roots, learned at AC Milan.
So, I am partly blaming Flick.
Partly Yamal for that counter.
Partly 5 of our players who went into a counter for no reason.
Partly Martin and defenders for being naive and soft.
Regarding some posts how this will be a great learning lessons for kids.
Well, maybe it will, maybe it won't.
We have to take into the account that this is a new era.
In 2005', when Ronaldinho and Etoo lost the tie, they worked hard and they gave 120% to win ON THE FIELD in the next season.
But today's football is different.
Social media is now a king.
Today, players lose too much energy on social media and short-term dopamine gratification boosts.
Imo, the worrying part is this is already second time in this season where players bought their own hype in the middle of the season.
Remember the first months under Flick.
We looked like prime Pep's Barca.
We were flying.
Then we won 0:4 at Bernabeu.
And as if the players started to "fly too high", they started to think that we are too good.
Look what happened after that El Classico win:
3:1 Espanyol
0:1 Sociedad
2:2 Celta
1:2 Las Palmas
5:1 Mallorca
2:2 Betis
0:1 Leganes
1:2 Atletico
1:1 Getafe
A team went from GOATs to 2 wins in 9 matches with a goal difference 15:13.
Some might say that I am seeing too much.
But for years, I am angry at Barca's mental strength.
In the past we had too many choir boys.
This time it is not about choir boys but about players losing a touch with reality and probably falling down under the influence of hype, fans anf social media.
Our season was almost ruined after 4:0 win against RM back then.
As if this team lives to win only against RM.
The season is done after that for them and they need 2 months to recharge their batteries again.
To some extent, imo, a CDR final win was the worst thing that happened to us in this moment.
Too many players lost their motivation and lots of them started to act like Ballon D Or divas.
So, regarding our learning lessons, it's hard to tell.
20 or 30 years ago, players would have learned from defeats like this.
But today? Hard to tell.
As Puyol said a few years ago: Real plans their season around CL semis and they lose CDR on purpose.
Yet, we are planning our season around CDR matches and El classico.
And too many times, we are dead tired or without focus in April/May CL quarters and semis.
So, time will tell.
Our players are too obsessed with Real Madrid and social media.
Maybe they'll grow stronger after this.
But maybe they'll act exactly the same in the next season in CL semis.
Especially because Barca isn't known for good psychology preparation.
We are all about Joga Bonita, attacking 24/7 and living for matches vs Real Madrid.
I am not saying that hating RM is bad.
But that hate drains our focus and energy and we are losing CL titles because of hate and too much focus on RM.
On the other hand, Real is able to lose CDR, lose La Liga title, lose El classico and still win a CL as if nothing happened.
A huge difference in approach.
Their priority is a CL title.
While our priorities are CDR and supercup wins against RM.
As if winning against RM in CDR is more important than winning a CL.
