Tuesday night was a bit of a reality check for FC Barcelona as they were beaten 3-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Champions League.
The defeat has left the Blaugrana with very slim chances of making it through to the knockout stages directly via a top-eight finish in the table.
It also highlighted that Hansi Flick & co. still have some way to go to reach the pinnacle in Europe, having already lost to PSG earlier this season.
Barcelona not losing heart
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona staff have analysed the defeat in London and already reached an important conclusion.
The painful 3-0 defeat against Chelsea left supporters shaken and doubtful about the possibility of Barça winning the title they desire so much.
It was the third match this season in which they have come up short against a major opponent, after losing to PSG and Real Madrid, with the opposition outperforming Flick’s players.
Chelsea and Barcelona players
Barcelona optimistic despite manner of Chelsea defeat. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Despite the difference seen between the two teams, especially after Ronald Araujo’s sending off, the Barça coaching staff remain convinced that the team can compete with everyone once their best players are fully up to speed.
Their main conclusion is that Araujo’s sending off defined the course of the match against a team that managed to impose its intensity thanks to its numerical advantage.
In fact, they are convinced that with eleven against eleven, Barça would at the very least have drawn.
In the loss to PSG, the French champions were only able to take full control after Pedri left the pitch, while Barcelona were already without two very important players – Raphinha and Joan Garcia.
In London, Pedri was absent again, and Raphinha was still not at 100 per cent to start.
As such, there is optimism and belief in the Barcelona camp that once they are back at full strength, the team is capable of competing against any opponent, including in the Champions League.