Barcelona find little sympathy from world press after Atlético defeat

Barcelona have been accused of having no “plan B” following their Champions League elimination by Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid as the world’s press rounded on the deposed European Cup holders.

Barça will not defend their title in Milan on 28 May after suffering a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Atlético, who won the second leg of their quarter-final 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Gerard Piqué fears Barça’s Champions League exit could hit La Liga hopes

After watching Antoine Griezmann’s two goals carry Atlético into the last four, the world press accused the head coach Luis Enrique and his players of lacking a back-up plan when things go awry.

“They have a coach without a plan B and are lacking the magic of a messiah,” read a damning analysis in El Mundo. “The poor embraced faith to scatter the rich, Barça, who collapsed at the Calderon.”

The Brazilian website Globoesporte said the Catalans “put a lot of balls into the area, but offered very little creatively”.

The Argentinian daily Olé claimed Atléti’s triumph was “more than deserved” and criticised their own home-grown striker Lionel Messi for not knowing “how to deal with the home team”.

Meanwhile Simeone, known as “El Cholo”, drew praise, both in Spain and abroad, for their attacking approach. “What belief. What emotion,” said Marca. “Atlético Madrid have made history by knocking out the European champions.”

El Pais wrote: “Atlético indisputable, Barça depressed. This is Atlético’s moment. Somehow, El Cholo has become to Atlético what Johan Cruyff was to Barcelona.

“Barça’s football has regressed over the last few weeks. Barça would have never imagined dropping out of the European Cup until being beaten by [Real] Madrid in El Clásico.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport labelled the result as “the fall of gods”. It wrote: “A great night for Simeone, who was able to celebrate after suffering seven defeats to Barça in the league and Copa del Rey, but a bitter night for Messi and company.”

The Catalan publication Mundo Deportivo said “a Barcelona without recourse have tumbled out of the Champions League. They did nothing in those final minutes to show they were aspiring to win another treble. Not a good night for Barça fans’ hearts, as their team were on the brink and fighting an uphill battle for most of the game.”

Diario Sport were among the few voices claiming Luis Enrique’s men had been hard done by, writing: “It should not be this way. “When everything looked to have been decided, then came the scandal. [Referee Nicola] Rizzoli did not award a penalty for what looked like a clear handball from Gabi.”

In France there were plaudits for Griezmann, who struck in the 36th minute before converting a penalty with two minutes remaining at the Vicente Calderón. L’Equipe said of the playmaker from Burgundy: “This is the year of confirmation for Atlético, Griezmann is the leader of a great club.”

#News #Headlinesnews #Sports #InternationalNews