Barcelona were a shipwreck and their coach was nowhere
Barcelona lost in Paris, without greatness or an excuse. It was a thunderous fall, from first minute to last, and the worst of the shipwreck is that, more than an accident, it was the manifestation of many problems, some latent others evident, that had been called out from the start of the season.
Barcelona were beaten in Paris in the midfield, where they have suffered all year. Yesterday Iniesta was still coming back from injury, Busquets was lost and Andre Gomes is still far too immature to play for Barcelona. With the midfield collapsing, the Blaugrana were stricken, with no plan, just hoping the trident could invent something. Apart from Neymar, they offered nothing.
Barcelona have grown accustomed to relying on the genius of Messi. Against PSG he did not appear, because the midfield was so disconnected. Beyond Ter Stegen, this was a bad game for everyone. However the worst performance came from the bench.
Unai Emery, who had won just one of 23 games against Barcelona coming into this clash, taught Luis Enrique a tactical lesson. PSG had a plan and believed in it, and their big victory comes down to that. Barcelona showed they have forgotten how to play, their style has been eaten away.
Luis Enrique once again focused his anger on a journalist, yesterday it was Jordi Grau. The coach has a tendency to blame journalists and journalism for everything bad that happens.
Luis Enrique is making a mistake when he tries to invent enemies that don’t exist, in the style of [Jose] Mourinho. His only worry should be making some severe self-criticism to fund the errors and get to the second leg with the chance to mount a comeback. The team played in Paris without a coach, very active in front of the microphones but invisible by the pitch.
