Barcelona can't handle intensity of top class football, insists Muller
Martin Macdonald
- 9 Dec 2021 04:52 CST
- 3 min read
Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller has rubbed salt into the wounds of Barcelona following the Champions League clash between the two European giants on Wednesday.
Barcelona headed into the final match of the group stage needing a positive result away at Bayern as they were required to better the result of Benfica in their respective fixture against Dynamo Kyiv.
It was a must-win game for Barca, but they ended up being comprehensively defeated by Bayern, who simply swept aside the visitors with a 3-0 home victory.
Muller opened the scoring with a header that just crossed the line. Leroy Sane scored the second with a strike from range which Marc-Andre ter Stegen should have saved, while Jamal Musiala made it three with a neat finish after the cut-back from Alphonso Davies.
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Apart from a couple of quick ventures forward on the break, Barca didn't really lay a glove on Bayern, who dominated the majority of proceedings.
Barcelona will now play in the Europa League in February, with Bayern topping the group after winning every one of their six group stage matches.
Following the game, Muller stuck the boot in, claiming Barcelona are now not equipped to handle the rigours of elite football.
"I think Barca can't cope with the intensity," he told DAZN.
"Technically, they have it all, they are great players tactically and technically.
"But they can't cope with the intensity in top football."
Xavi reacts to Barcelona elimination
Barcelona head coach Xavi cut an angry figure following the result, and lamented the club's fall in stature - as well as the drop into the Europa League.
"Bayern dominated us," he said after the Champions League defeat.
"We always want to dominate but it was the opposite here. We must demand more. We're Barca. This must be a point of inflection to change the dynamic and many more things.
"This is the Champions League, but this is also our reality. It's the situation we're in. I'm angry. This is the reality and it p***es me off. We have to tackle it face on. There's nothing else for it.
"A new era starts today. We start from zero. Our objective is the Champions League, not the Europa League, but that is our reality now and we have to try and win it."
The Blaugrana are a mess off and on the pitch at the moment, with debts rising to €1.3 billion, a major points deficit to make up in La Liga and now elimination from the Champions League.
