Lionel Messi Predicts Champions League Failure If Barcelona Fail To Change | Football News

A pissed off Lionel Messi referred to as for alternate after Barcelona passed the La Liga title to Real Madrid on Thursday, caution the staff will lose within the Champions League as neatly in the event that they fail to strengthen. Barca’s name problem ended with a whimper at Camp Nou, the place they had been crushed 2-1 via Osasuna whilst Madrid’s 2-1 victory at house to Villarreal ensured they had been topped Spanish champions. Defeat will increase the force on coach Quique Setien, who took over in January with Barcelona sitting best of the desk.

Membership president Josep Maria Bartomeu has mentioned Setien will stay in rate for the Champions League next month, when Barca play their 2nd leg at house to Napoli, with the last-16 tie within the steadiness at 1-1.

“The sensation of the staff is that it tries however can not do it, that we go away so much to be desired in lots of spaces and as of late within the first part I believe they had been higher than us,” Messi mentioned after the loss to Osasuna.

“I mentioned way back that if we persevered on this manner, it might be very tricky to win the Champions League and that has been proven to be the case in Los angeles Liga too.

“If we wish to struggle for the Champions League we can have to switch so much as a result of in a different way the fit towards Napoli, we can lose that as neatly.”

Messi scored a super free-kick towards Osasuna but it surely used to be now not sufficient. Madrid pulled seven issues transparent of Barcelona forward of Sunday’s ultimate spherical of video games.

“We did not be expecting or wish to end like this but it surely virtually sums up the entire 12 months,” mentioned Messi. “We now have been very inconsistent, very vulnerable, crushed on depth or need.

“They created possibilities very simply and scored. All the way through the entire 12 months we’ve got been inconsistent and we’ve got misplaced numerous issues the place we should not have. This recreation confirmed what this 12 months has been about for us.”

‘We must be self-critical’

Messi has been serious of the board this season and prompt everybody on the membership will have to take their proportion of the blame.

“After the smash Madrid have now not misplaced any video games and so they deserve credit score for that however we’ve got additionally helped them so much,” mentioned Messi.

“We misplaced numerous video games that we will have to now not have misplaced and we must be self-critical, beginning with the avid gamers, but it surely needs to be a complete self-criticism from everybody as a result of we’re Barcelona and we’re obliged to win the suits no matter occurs and as an alternative have a look at us.”

If Barcelona come via towards Napoli, they’re going to face Bayern Munich within the final 8, with a compressed structure of unmarried legs right through to the overall.

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“I believe we’d like just a little air, this smash will probably be excellent for us, to transparent our heads, put out of your mind about the whole thing that has took place,” mentioned Messi.

“It’s been very dangerous from December till now however it’s the Champions League and there are 4 video games that may come up with a trophy that all of us need. However we need to alternate so much and be very self-critical.”