Without intensity or answers: Barça pays dearly for its own mistakes

Few things can rescue of the party of the FC Barcelona in Saint Mamés. The performances of Pedri or Ferran, the interventions of Ter Stegen... And little more. The Barça 'lost' the feelings that had achieved against the Real Madrid and the intention hid to give a hit on the table and remains , as it is accustoming, with a new elimination and disappointment.

The Barça is remaining without titles for contesting and is something that has to light the alarms, because the leave in zero in this season appears again in the horizon. It will speak , of course, that it is a year of transition, to give him confidence to the more youngsters and begin a project from zero, but it is necessary to remain -and deepen- in the lacks of this team, because of this depends the aims of the next year.

The group directed by Xavi was able to react and not to lose him the face to the party, but was insufficient. The Athletic Club surpassed to the Barcelona in every aspect and the intensity, as it recognised the trainer egarense, went one of them. "Saint Mamés demands you to the maximum and had spoken it. They have won us by intensity, if you do not equalise them in this... I have seen an Athletic excellent, worked, orderly, very well physically", underlined Xavi after the party in Bilbao.

The Barça did not know 'play' against the tiredness that, obviously, had the Athletic after playing the past Sunday the final of the Supercopa. Neither with the fact that had more days of 'rest' and to prepare the clash, at least more than the bilbaínos. The Barcelona finished signing a quite grey party in which, further of the hit (that this time was hit!) To the team was missing him football.

The ones of Xavi did not renounce to the possession, but the Athletic expected at all or little: With few passes, touch and in base to a big speed planted in the area of Marc-André ter Stegen that, finally, is answering under the three sticks. Between so much, they had few or any news of a defence that saw surpassed at all times, so much in the actions inside the area, as in the exit of the balloon and much more in the game by the sides.

A long way by in front

The reality is only one: it remains a lot for improving and the Barça has the time (and calendar) against. Right now, they have escaped three titles: Champions League, Supercopa of Spain and Glass of Rey, the three between the month of December and January. It is a situation inaudita for the culés, having that -besides- are to 17 points of the leadership of LaLiga and that the 'play-offs' of the Europe League will be against a Napoli that always knows to complicate to his rivals.

The way aims to be long and complicated. The bad luck, also, pursues to the Barcelona, because the injuries do not detain neither give space to rotar. It will hold the team? Will have Xavi a 'ace' under the sleeve for revertir this situation? The Barça will conform with going without at all in this season, again? A lot of questions and, for the moment, there are not answers.