Real Madrid legend explains why Barcelona faltered in the Champions League: ‘If they don’t change…’ | OneFootball

The UEFA Champions League dream will have to wait another year for Barcelona after they were outdone by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinal of the competition.

Having overturned a 2-0 deficit early in the second leg, the Catalans had a good chance of turning the tie around and taking the lead.

Their high defensive line, however, was caught out against the run of play and handed Atletico Madrid the lead on aggregate once more. Eventually, it was too much of a task for the Blaugrana to overturn.

Kroos’ on Barcelona’s exit

Speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos was placed in a tricky spot as he was asked about whether he would have rather liked to see Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the semifinals.

“Couldn’t they both lose? After my ten years in Madrid, I don’t want any of them to win. But if I had to choose, better Atleti, because next year they won’t have the same chances to win.”

Elaborating on where he felt the script went wrong for Barcelona across the two legs, the German legend blamed the game situation.

Kroos believes Barcelona must change their style to succeed in the UCL. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

“I think Barça was a better team, but playing so long with one less is very difficult.”

“Atleti knows how to defend the result very well and with the advantage of the first leg and the expulsion, they had everything in their favour,” he added.

Kroos then went on to explain the flaw in Barcelona’s system and why he thinks they will not win the UEFA Champions League with the same tactics.

“When you defend like this and leave so many spaces behind, these things happen. Even expulsions to avoid a 1v1.”

“The defence is very exposed. It already happened to them last year and now again. If they don’t change that way of playing, they won’t win the Champions League,” he added.

Finally, he was asked if he honestly saw Atletico Madrid as potential winners of the competition, to which he said,

“I think they are not going to win the Champions League. There are teams that play better than them.”

Source: SPORT