Injuries, concessions, lack of leadership and 'fang'... The reasons for Barça's 'KO' in Europe

The fall of the FC Barcelona to hands of the Manchester United is the reflection of the inconsistencia that has had the team in international competitions. The staff has showed a face in LaLiga and another very different in Champions and Europe League, what leaves on the table that to the group still is missing him something more to give the big jump to the continental glory.

Although nowadays Xavi Hernández is achieving the aims that proposed in each one of his two campaigns in the Barça (classify to the Champions and be champion of League), the true is that they have existed several factors that explain the reason of the fusses that has suffered in the international tournaments.

The inexperience and fault of leadership of a very young group is one of the most common causes when a club is in stage of reconstruction. The Barcelona have done several modifications in the last seasons and the explosion of footballers like Pedri, Gavi, Ansu, Araújo and Ferran Torres leave them to the intemperie in front of groups that already know to perfection and that have greater time working together and competing in Europe. Besides, the excess of rotations does not finish to strengthen an alone XI of gala and this also has happened him bill to the Catalans.

Added to this, the unexpected injuries have unfit the diagram of game of the trainer in key moments. In Champions the culés presented the drops of Koundé, Araújo, Christensen, Frenkie, Bellerín, Sergi Roberto and Memphis for the commitments in front of the Inter of Milan and Bayern Munich, what marked a clear disadvantage during the phase of groups. Already in Europe League, so much Dembélé like Pedri and Busquets kept in the infirmary in front of the United, adding also the absence of Gavi for the turn by accumulation of cards.

Errors and fault of reaction

Also one of the reasons of the low performance of the team out of Spain is the little capacity of reaction and 'fang' that have showed. The Barcelona has not been able to surpass the adversity when they mark him first or when they equalise them the marker, something fundamental to reach the success in front of the biggest clubs of Europe. In front of the rivals of greater category like Inter (1-0; 3-3), Bayern (2-0; 0-3) and United (2-2; 2-1) they did not know to answer and part of this also recae in the attitude that the technician is implanting inside the changing room.

Finally but no less important are the referee's errors. For anybody is a secret that the referees have overlooked several actions that would have been able to change entirely the course of the parties. In League of Champions did not sentence a penalti clear on Dembélé in the gone in front of the Bavarians, whereas in the clash in front of the Italians invalidated a goal of Pedri by a hand more than questionable and also did 'the fat sight' on a hand of Dumfries inside the very similar area to the before sanctioned against the culés. In Europe League did case omiso to another clear hand of Fred after a head butt of Sergi Roberto and there was not sanction to the terrible pisotón of Luke Shaw on Koundé to few minutes to having begun the party of turn.

For Xavi the errors of the VAR and of the referee's body have prejudiced to the Barcelona in key moments but is not a capital excuse for the bad image that have left in Europe the last two seasons. It will be necessary to see if the sportive project gives fruits in the two titles that are still in game and if the staff finishes to make of face to the 2023/24, where the Champions will be the primary aim of the Managerial Board.