Yesterday was consummated what many expected after Barça’s draw against Benfica. And it is that the blaugrana team, has been for the first time, since 2004, outside the knockout stages of the Champions League. Xavi’s men suffered a hard defeat by 3 goals to 0 in the Bayern fiefdom, which allows them at least to play the Europa League.
This has generated a debate, as there are many who think that Barça should not compete in the Europa League and throw it away, but this would set a bad precedent. Yes, the Europa League is a minor trophy next to the Champions League, but it is a title after all, and Barça must always aspire to win all the competitions in which it participates. Many great teams that now aspire to win the Champions League have built their project based on good results in the Europa League. Manchester United was a finalist in the last edition, Chelsea won it in 2019, and Inter or Liverpool also went through this tournament and then have grown.
FC Barcelona should not see playing in the second category of Europe as a humiliation, if not as an opportunity to grow. Many of its players are young footballers who need minutes and experience in tournaments like this, to later compete in the Champions League. TO
In addition, today the club is in seventh position in La Liga, far from the positions that give access to the Champions League, and although they must focus their efforts on local competition, winning the Europa League is an extra opportunity to qualify. to Champions, if they don’t get it via La Liga. Villarreal this season is playing in this competition after winning the Europa League last season, so the Blaugrana must accept the situation in which they find themselves and work to grow little by little.
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