Juan Manuel Asensi, former player and former captain of Barcelona, told EFE this Saturday that the Catalan team, after being thrashed by Bayern in the Champions League 2-8), showed that he had not learned the lesson of what happened in the last edition of the tournament against Liverpool (4-0). “We thought it was just a hard hit, a bad night despite the fact that there had already been some warnings and that no more was going to happen, but it wasn't like that”He regretted that he was a Spanish international and that he resides in Alicante.
Asensi admitted that the image of Barcelona was so “terrible” that it was difficult for him to believe what he saw. “I did not believe it, I saw the goals fall and I was levitating,” said the former footballer, who recalled that in his playing stage they never got eight “.
“This blow for all of us who are from Barcelona is very hard, it is impossible to believe. All Barça fans are angry and in a state of 'shock'. We don't even know what to say”he continued.
The former Alicante player, who defended the Catalan team's jersey for eleven seasons, senses that a win of this caliber “will certainly take its toll” in the dressing room, but pointed out that not only the players are responsible for the debacle.
“They have their part, because they are the ones who play, but behind there is planning and direction”, affirmed Asensi, who although he admitted that the temptation now is to “burn everything”, asked for a little “pause” to “reflect and analyze” the situation.
“It is necessary to think well what to do to straighten the course. There is not much time and you have to make courageous decisions that are beneficial”he explained. “We have to make a powerful team worthy of Barcelona again,” he added.
Asensi was concerned about Leo Messi's state of mind, which he said must be disappointed. “It will be difficult for him to chew this, but like everyone else, because no player likes a defeat like this”, added.
“Any team in the world beats you today if you are not physically well and you run the same as the one in front. Barcelona is technically super gifted, but balance is necessary,” defended the former midfielder, who had words of encouragement for Quique Setién. “It is true that he already knew where he was getting, but they have scored eight and he will be having a bad time. The pressure in Barcelona is such a situation, it is enormous and it is hard to sleep”, he concluded.