Last week’s unexpected defeat in Montjuïc against Chelsea left the Blaugrana in an almost unprecedented scenario for these footballers, accustomed to resolving each procedure with some ease. Erin Cuthbert’s goal in the first half gave the English a minimal advantage in the first leg and now they are forced to come back, something that has not happened since 2018, when Barça fell against all odds against the modest BIIK-Kazygurt in a few round of 32 That defeat was the consequence of a very long and very uncomfortable trip to Kazakhstan, but they managed to turn it around and come back with a 3-0 win at the Miniestadi.
Many things have changed since then. In 2018, Barça had not yet reached a Champions League final, today, the Blaugrana team is the champion to be dethroned and along the way it has gained maturity to face complicated situations like the one they have ahead of them tomorrow. The players did not like the defeat in Montjuïc, and they are aware that they played one of the worst games in a long time, but the ambition of this group is such that as soon as they heard the final whistle everyone was already thinking about Stamford Bridge.
There are no doubts in the locker room, they all have full confidence that they can turn the tie around and have put all their efforts into seeking that victory that will bring them closer to the final on May 25 in San Mamés. There is no time to regret, nor to find culprits for that defeat. They know that practically none of them had their best afternoon and they just want to get the ball rolling again to silence all the criticism and doubts that arose after losing in the first leg.
And even more so after Wednesday’s game against Levante Las Planas. With an eleven of rotations thinking about Saturday’s match in London, Barça did not play its most attractive match in the Catalan derby of the F League. Ferran Cabello’s team even overtook the Blaugrana on two occasions, despite the fact that In the end, Barça won a comfortable victory by 2 goals to 4. Despite the victory, the feelings were not the best and they know that they cannot allow themselves to come out so disconnected against Chelsea.
“In football sometimes you have to lose, but surely this will help us get a better version in the return,” said Aitana Bonmatí in the mixed zone of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, when the defeat still stung. And if this team has learned anything, it is to emerge stronger from defeats. They did it in 2019 after losing in the final in Budapest against Lyon, and they also did it in Eindhoven, overcoming the 2-0 that Wolfsburg gave them at half-time in last year’s final to lift their second Champions League.
The team will travel to London this afternoon, using their brand new plane for the first time, and will train at Stamford Bridge in the afternoon, emulating as much as possible the conditions that will occur in the match, where winter temperatures and rain are expected. To fight against the London cold, the Blaugrana will be supported by a large movement of Barça fans. It is expected that there will be more than 350 fans cheering on the team at Stamford Bridge, which yesterday announced that more than 33,500 of its 40,000 seats had been sold. The Penya Blaugrana London has called a preview with the Catalan fans to march together towards the field and it is expected that there will be an incredible atmosphere for one of the most exciting matches of the year.
