“Europe is too big for Barca!”

FC Barcelona dreams of Europe. After only finishing third in the Champions League group stage (behind Bayern and Inter), the Catalans’ journey to the Europa League is now over after the 2-1 defeat in Manchester.

Sporting successes would take one’s eyes off the club’s negative headlines. Now, however, the final European end symbolizes how the club has ruined itself in recent years. Especially financially.

contract whirl

The result: a huge mountain of debt and constant hassle about the salaries of the players. Due to the mismanagement, the association pushed the club’s available salary budget – compared to the golden age – enormously. In January, for example, it could also happen that the contract extension of “Golden Boy” Gavi (18) was declared invalid by the league for budgetary reasons before the club went to court and was still able to prevail.

Moreover, according to the Spanish media, Barcelona expected at least the European quarter-finals this season. Notably in the Champions League. Planned millions are now gone by the end of the sixteenth final in the Europa League.

The malice of home is loud. “Europe is still a bad dream for Barça,” writes the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo. Marca says: «A disaster with consequences. Europe is too big for Barça!” And the “AS” judges: “The never-ending nightmare. Barcelona falls again in Europe.”

Coach Xavi is looking for explanations afterwards: “We played against big rivals. Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Manchester United – these are very strong teams. We held out against all teams except Bayern’s second leg. Because of the details it was not enough. We will come back stronger next year.”

allegations of corruption

And then there are the allegations of corruption: between 2001 and 2018, Barça is said to have paid a total of 6.6 million euros to a company owned by former Spanish referee vice-president José Negreira. The payments have been confirmed by the club itself, although it is stressed that they were made as part of purely advisory services. Meanwhile, the “Marca” is already writing about the “biggest scandal in Spanish football history”.

The only bright spot at the moment: the competition. There, the 26-time Spanish champion has eight points ahead of his great rival Real Madrid after 22 rounds. After three years without a master (2x Real, 1x Atletico) it could work again. The Catalans’ defensive value is outstanding, having conceded just seven goals in 22 games so far.

If only the club could be managed almost as well as defended in the league, it would probably still be called the “great FC Barcelona” this year. But that leaves a musty aftertaste. (tired)

Source : Blick