The defeat of Barça in the final of the Spanish Supercup, Sunday against Athletic Bilbao (2-3, ap) left traces. According to Spanish radio Cadena Ser, Antoine Griezmann’s post-match statements were not very appreciated by part of the locker room. The French international, author of a double that night, regretted the lack of communication on the defensive phases.
“We defended badly”
“I think we defended badly, regretted the striker on Barça TV. We did not speak. These are very important details that make the outcome of a match. When the ball leaves or when you have to start running, someone has to scream. Sometimes you scream and sometimes you don’t … “
According to the show The spar, some players like Marc-André ter Stegen and defenders would have taken these words as a direct attack. The player’s entourage denied this grumbling to Spanish media, assuring that the finding is shared by a majority of the workforce.
At the end of the meeting, Ronald Koeman, the Barça coach, had also pointed out this failing aspect of his workforce. “I saw things that we have improved and things that we still need to improve, especially in defense, he said. Close to our goals we have to be sharper, we can progress on this side- there. I gave the maximum of what I can give in my work. It is not very important to lose today (Sunday), as it would not have been very important to win. But to lose this (Sunday) night, it’s very difficult, yes. It’s not a step back. “
Griezmann, him, had confided to be “sad, angry, embarrassed”. “When you lose a final, you feel all the bad feelings that can be, he added. We know that the teams of Marcelino (coach of Bilbao, note) work very well. Athletic Bilbao believed in it until the last minute and they played really well. “