‘We won’t win the Champions League playing like this’: Barcelona stars held tense dressing room discussion after scraping past Slavia Prague
- Barcelona squeezed past Slavia Prague 2-1 in Champions League on Wednesday
- Czech side dominated for large parts of the game and Catalan side were lucky
- Ernesto Valverde’s men had honest discussion in dressing room at stadium
- One of the phrases used was: ‘We won’t win the Champions League like this’
There was a tense and honest discussion in Barcelona’s dressing room after their fortunate 2-1 win over Slavia Prague.
The Catalan side edged past their Czech opponents in the Champions League on Wednesday night but looked fragile and far from their best.
Before the coaching staff went into the changing room, the team’s leaders spoke out and one of the phrases used was: ‘We aren’t going to win the competition playing like this’, according to Marca.
Luis Suarez and Barcelona limped past Slavia Prague 2-1 in the Champions League
Prague had equalised after an early Lionel Messi goal before a freak own goal off Peter Olayinka gave the Spanish side a lead they held on to.
The hosts had a total of 24 shots to Barcelona’s 13 and on another day could have sprung an upset.
After Liverpool’s stunning upset last year and away at Roma the year before, there is an understanding that Messi and Co need to be far better to fulfil ambitions of winning a sixth title.
Lionel Messi scored an opener and then the Catalan side were beneficiaries of an own goal
Marc-Ander ter Stegen accepted that there needs to be a huge improvement from Barcelona
After the game, goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen said: ‘I think we need to talk about some things,’ Marc-Andre ter Stegen said after the match.
‘I think that’s something we have to look at ourselves. I won’t say it here because it’s more internal.
‘It’s not my thing, I’d like to speak to the players who were on the pitch first.’
Despite the negativity, Barcelona top Group H on seven points ahead of Inter Milan on four.
