Suarez laments Barca's consecutive Champions League collapses

Luis Suarez cut a frustrated figure following Barcelona's Champions League exit, having also capitulated against Roma last season.

Published : May 08, 2019 10:11 IST

An apologetic and hurt Luis Suarez said Barcelona has a lot to evaluate and think about after its sensational collapse at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals.

A 3-0 first-leg deficit was incredibly erased by Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, who stunned LaLiga champion Barca 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday.

Braces from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum sent last season's runners-up Liverpool through to the Madrid decider on June 1 as Barca was left licking its wounds.

READ | The numbers behind Liverpool's famous Champions League comeback

In 2017-18, Barca saw a 4-1 opening-leg advantage wiped out by Roma, which won the return fixture 3-0 in the Italian capital to progress to the semis.

 

Reflecting on Barca's latest collapse, star forward Suarez said: "We have to do a lot of self-criticism, it's the second time the same happens to us.

"We cannot make these mistakes two years in a row, we have to reproach ourselves for what we are doing wrong. There's a lot to evaluate and think about."

"We are very sad, hurt, we are human beings, we feel the pain, the frustration, we have to do self-criticism, put our chest for the bullets of what is coming now," he continued.

ALSO READ | Klopp hails 'genius' Alexander-Arnold after Liverpool slays Barcelona

Ernesto Valverde has led Barca to back-to-back LaLiga titles but Barca's European catastrophe has raised doubts over the head coach.

"We are the ones who play, the coach made the tactics that he made in the first leg," Suarez said. "We, the players, have to be self-aware, we are the ones who play.

"We have to apologise for the attitude, we were not a team. To our families, our children, our fans, we have to ask their forgiveness, it cannot be that in a minute we concede two goals.

"In the fourth goal we looked like youngsters. We have to understand all the criticisms that are going to rain on us."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment