Catalan newspaper Sport go big on Tuesday with what they say is a response of Barcelona’s captains to the Champions League exit.
Whilst Sport say many in the media blamed Samuel Umtiti and Ernesto Valverde for the exit against AS Roma, the Catalan club’s captains have a different stance. It’s felt this has been coming and Barcelona simply don’t have enough quality in depth to be able to fight hard at the end of the season.
Valverde not having enough confidence in his bench options means the senior players have to face more minutes and challenges than they perhaps should, and this is showing as there’s nothing left in the tank to face problems such as the Roma fightback.
Barcelona’s most senior players feel they’ve reach the crucial part of the season with flat batteries and the ‘big problem’ is a lack of contribution from reserves.
A source close to the players is quoted as saying: “Now, when they look at the bench, they do not accuse the coach, they even pity him for the few solutions he has.”
Midfield and defence is thought to especially need addressing and Barcelona’s senior players don’t even mind if it sees them edged out a little, because they believe the club needs an injection of quality.
