Barcelona’s senior players offered a candid assessment after their flat 3-0 loss to Chelsea, acknowledging it was a ‘difficult’ game.
While Hansi Flick struck an optimistic tone post-match, several members of the squad were far more direct in their appraisal.
Eric Garcia did not hold back when speaking to Movistar+, admitting the performance fell well below expectations.
“It’s been a crap night. We were coming off a good game against Athletic. We started the game well and had a couple of really good chances.
“We tried to hold on a bit in the second half, but 2-0 kills you off,” he said, as quoted by Marca.
Garcia went on to highlight Barcelona’s failure to cope with Chelsea’s press or build any meaningful press.
“I think they were pressing us. We didn’t adjust properly. We tried to jump with the full-backs and it was impossible. We had to run after the ball the whole time.”
The defeat marks Barcelona’s third straight loss against top-tier opposition this season, having previously fallen to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, a trend Garcia says reflects deeper competitive issues.
“The matches we’ve played are familiar. We need to be more competitive in these types of matches. The duels, second balls… if you don’t make yourself strong, it’s impossible to win.”
Joan Garcia: Chelsea controlled the match
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia echoed similar sentiments, conceding that Chelsea dictated the contest even before Ronald Araujo’s red card.
“It was difficult. It already was with 11 against 11, and then with one less… We tried to bring out what we have inside us to fight for the game, but Chelsea is a good team, and they controlled the spaces well, and we couldn’t do it.”
Pressed on whether Chelsea operated at a different intensity level, he pointed to their trademark high-tempo approach.
“That’s their style, playing at a high tempo, pressing very high, going one-on-one. When it was 11 against 11 we had our chances, we found some spaces, but it couldn’t be.”
Barcelona’s defensive concerns also resurfaced, despite their clean sheet last weekend following Garcia’s return from injury.
“We want to achieve as many clean sheets as possible. Sometimes it can’t be… In recent games things haven’t gone as planned, but the only thing for it is to fight.”
Flick later criticised Araujo for the reckless challenge that led to his dismissal, and Garcia acknowledged the defender was frustrated at the interval.
“Nobody likes to leave their team with a player less… the message in the dressing room was to show desire and take advantage of chances, but the early goal in the second half stopped that happening.”