Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona side is the worst Barça in quite some time. The sleeping giants have started horrifically in the league, recording the worst start to a La Liga campaign since the change to the three-point format, and have not topped their Champions League group for the first time since 2006.
The Dutchman does not seem to have an effective system, and his side’s morale is incredibly low. They have never won this season when they have gone down a goal and effectively lost their top spot in the group in the last game. They went down to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at home and never seemed to get it together.
The 3-0 defeat, at home to a weak Juventus side, hurt everyone. The players, the coach and, most importantly, the fans. Seeing their team so weak sportively and mentality has taken a toll on most Culés, and they now feel bereft of confidence ahead of the Champions League Round of 16.
Finishing second in the group means that Barça will face some of Europe’s biggest sides. From Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to Bayern Munich, the treble winners, passing by Jurgen Klopp’s intense Liverpool and Neymar’s Paris Saint-Germain. These teams are some of the most dangerous in Europe, and Barcelona will have to enter their den in the next round.
This year, and under this management, it looks like Barcelona do not stand a chance in Europe’s premier competition, and here is why: continue reading