Samuel Umtiti blasts Barcelona defending after Champions League exit

Samuel Umtiti has not held back in his assessment of Barcelona after their Champions League elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

The former Barcelona defender believes the team’s approach without the ball and their discipline have cost them dearly on the biggest stage.

“Everyone thought Barca would easily beat Atletico… but I’m still disappointed with this Barca team, especially since they picked up two red cards in two matches,” Umtiti said, frustrated by the lack of control shown across the tie. He argued that the issues are not new and that the players are “shooting themselves in the foot” with repeated mistakes.

“Yes, they take risks by defending high up the pitch, but you realise that on one play, they’re late… and that lateness is very, very costly,” he explained, pointing to how a single lapse can undo an entire game plan at this level.

For Umtiti, the most disappointing part is that, with eleven men, Barcelona never truly imposed themselves. “In the two matches with 11 against 11, it wasn’t necessarily a contest, so I’m a bit disappointed about that. You also realise that Atletico is solid,” he concluded.