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Although Lionel Messi is still around, Barcelona enter the start of their Champions League campaign with moderate expectations. After their humble exits from Europe in recent seasons, the Catalan club is not as confident as before.
Last season’s 8-2 win at the hands of Bayern Munich set the ball rolling for wholesale changes at the Camp Nou and, despite Luis Suárez and Ivan Rakitic being allowed to leave, Messi ended up staying.
Eliminations against Roma, Liverpool and Bayern have contributed to this lack of optimism in the Champions League at the Camp Nou, but Ronald Koeman remains relatively ambitious.
“In Barcelona you have to play to win titles, at national and European level,” Koeman told reporters on Monday. “But there are strong teams and you have to show your credentials.
“After what happened [at the club] We are not favorites, but we can go far. “
Barcelona haven’t won the top prize in Europe since 2015. This season, they enter the Champions League with confusion on all sides. Messi has stayed, somewhat against his will, but the club is going through financial difficulties, while its president Josep Maria Bartomeu has a vote of no confidence to face.
After such a tumultuous summer, Messi cannot be blamed for starting the campaign a bit slow, although Koeman is by his employer’s side.
“I think their performances could be better,” Koeman added on Monday. “But looking at him every day I can see that he is happy and training well.
“He’s focused, he wants to be captain and he wants to play. I have no complaints or doubts about him.”
On Tuesday, Ferencvaros presents Barcelona’s first test of its journey through the Champions League. The Hungarian team have not participated in the competition since 1995 and are the top favorites in a group that also includes Juventus and Dynamo Kyiv.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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