Barcelona: Gerard Pique admits ‘We are who we are’ as Barça trounced by Bayern in Champions League
Thomas Muller’s deflected strike for the opener was an unlucky technique to fall behind, however the gulf in school between the 2 sides was evident all through.
Had it not been for goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Bayern could properly have gotten near final 12 months’s crushing scoreline, although even his heroics couldn’t forestall the irrepressible Robert Lewandowski from scoring a brace that took his complete Champions League tally to 75.
‘We’re who we’re’
Having slid in a determined try to deny Lewandowski from scoring his second of the match, footage of Gerard Pique, key to a lot of Barcelona’s biggest triumphs, watching on helpless from the ground because the Polish ahead fired residence served as a painful encapsulation of the membership’s present state.
Pique has stayed on the Camp Nou regardless of the departures of key gamers corresponding to Neymar and Luís Suárez lately, to not point out Antoine Griezmann and Messi this summer time, and following the sport the centerback was candid in his evaluation of Barcelona’s current struggles.
“The result’s tough and taking part in at residence, it is a dangerous consequence, we won’t deceive ourselves,” Pique informed Spanish broadcaster Movistar.
“It’s what it’s, proper now, we’re who we’re”, he added.
Pique referenced the absences of teenager Ansu Fati, in addition to winger Ousmane Dembele and new signing Sergio Agüero, who arrived from Manchester Metropolis this summer time.
“I hope that all through the season, injured gamers begin coming again and I am satisfied that we’ll find yourself competing properly. It will be a really difficult 12 months,” he continued.
“Proper now, we’re not favorites, however issues change actually quick in soccer. Final season, nobody would have stated Chelsea had been favorites [to win the Champions League].”
With 17-year outdated substitute Alejandro Martínez considered one of a number of youngsters on the pitch by the sport’s finish, Pique discovered trigger for future optimism regardless of his acceptance of the current challenges dealing with the membership.
“I believe that on the finish of the day, we performed with 4 to 5 children of 18 years outdated,” he informed CBS.
“I believe that they compete superb and now we have to put money into them, they’re the way forward for the membership.
“It’s true that it is not the perfect time since I’ve been right here, now we have suffered a bit however I believe that we’ll develop up, we might be higher and I am positive that, on the finish of the 12 months, we’ll compete for the titles,” Pique stated.
‘It’s what it’s’
Barcelona supervisor Ronald Koeman echoed his defender’s feedback in accepting the present state of the membership, admitting a “high quality” hole between his aspect and Bayern.
“We solely had three forwards at this time, no extra. Tactically, there have been a whole lot of phases of the sport that we managed. We tried to fill areas close to Lewandowski, we tried to compete higher, however it’s what it’s,” Koeman informed Movistar.
“I am unable to complain about our perspective. There is a distinction in high quality, within the group, as a bunch and bench that is been getting higher. In two or three years, these younger gamers might be higher. It is actually troublesome to simply accept, however it’s what it’s,” he concluded.
In the meantime, Messi is ready to embark on a Champions League marketing campaign with out Barcelona for the first-time in his profession as Paris Saint-Germain face Membership Brugge in Belgium tonight.