Lionel Messi rips Barcelona in defeat: We’re a ‘weak’ side

Lionel Messi had strong words for Barcelona after losing the league title to Real Madrid.

Thursday’s surprise defeat summed up much of the frustration Messi and Barcelona have dealt with all season long. After the game, Messi didn’t mince words.

“We didn’t expect or want it to end in this way, but it’s a reflection of our season,” Messi told Movistar after Osasuna ended Barca’s 42-game unbeaten run at Camp Nou in the league.

“[We’ve been] an inconsistent, weak team that has been beaten in intensity and enthusiasm. It has been easy to score goals against us.

“Madrid did what they had to do. They haven’t lost a game since the restart, which deserves credit, but we have helped them by dropping points we should not have dropped.

“We must be self-critical, starting with the players, but across the whole club. Madrid won all their games but we are Barcelona and we’re obliged to win every game. We have to look at ourselves, not the opposition, and the performances in recent games have left a lot to be desired.”

Barcelona are still on course for a trophy this season, the UEFA Champions League. Their last trophy-less season was in 2007-08, they face Napoli in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Aug. 8. The first leg ended 1-1 in Italy in February, and Messi knows the margin for error is slim to none.

“I have said before that if we continued playing as we were it would be difficult to win the Champions League and now it’s clear it wasn’t even enough to win La Liga,” the Barca captain added. “We have to change a lot because if we don’t, we will lose against Napoli as well. We need a little time to clear our heads and then to think about the Champions League, which starts from zero.”

“The fans are angry with all that’s gone on this season and it’s normal, we are also angry,” he said. “It’s normal that they feel like this and that, after the defeats against Roma and Liverpool [in the Champions League in 2018 and 2019], they are losing patience because we’re not giving them anything.”

Much of the fans’ ire will head towards manager Quique Setien, who has failed to get the best of his players. Messi’s contract is set to expire next season in 2021, with rumors swirling that he may leave the club.