“We Can’t Play Like This” — De Jong and Lewandowski Slam Barça’s Dortmund Display Despite Qualification

The final whistle at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund may have signaled FC Barcelona’s triumphant passage to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019, a significant milestone for the Catalan giants and their devoted fanbase. However, the celebrations that might have been expected following such a feat were conspicuously muted, replaced instead by a palpable sense of disappointment and self-criticism emanating from within the Barcelona dressing room. Despite securing their place in the coveted final four, the manner of their 3-1 defeat at the hands of a resilient Borussia Dortmund side in the second leg has prompted key figures within the Barcelona squad, including midfield maestro Frenkie de Jong and prolific striker Robert Lewandowski, to publicly voice their dissatisfaction with the team’s overall performance.

While the aggregate scoreline of 5-3 ultimately favored Barcelona, ensuring their qualification for the next stage of the competition, the nature of their display in Germany left a bitter taste in the mouths of both players and supporters alike. The dominant and controlled performance that characterized their commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg at the Camp Nou was conspicuously absent in the return fixture, replaced by a disjointed and often sloppy showing that allowed Borussia Dortmund to gain the upper hand on the night.

Frenkie de Jong, the elegant Dutch midfielder who has become an integral part of Barcelona’s engine room, did not mince his words when assessing the team’s performance. Speaking with the blunt honesty that has endeared him to the Barcelona faithful, De Jong admitted that the team simply “didn’t play well” against Dortmund, acknowledging that “many players didn’t perform to their usual standards.” His assessment served as a stark contrast to the celebratory tone that often accompanies Champions League qualification, highlighting the high standards that De Jong and his teammates hold themselves to.

Despite the relief of securing a place in the semi-finals after a prolonged absence from this stage of the competition, De Jong’s overriding emotion was one of disappointment. He visibly conveyed his frustration with the team’s distinct lack of intensity and composure throughout the match, particularly during periods when Borussia Dortmund exerted significant pressure. The Dutch maestro emphasized that Barcelona, a club of their stature and with the quality they possess within their ranks, are capable of producing far more accomplished and controlled performances on the European stage.

De Jong’s post-match comments underscored a collective understanding within the Barcelona squad that while the ultimate goal of qualification was achieved, the manner in which it was attained was far from satisfactory. He stated that the performance “leaves a bitter taste,” suggesting that the players were acutely aware of their shortcomings and the need for significant improvement as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in the semi-finals. While acknowledging that the team would undoubtedly feel happy about reaching the final four come the following day, De Jong made it clear that on the night of the defeat, there was little to be proud of in their performance against Borussia Dortmund.

Echoing De Jong’s sentiments was Barcelona’s veteran striker, Robert Lewandowski, a player whose prolific goal-scoring record and unwavering professionalism have made him a talismanic figure at the Camp Nou. Lewandowski, who is on the cusp of reaching the remarkable milestone of 100 goals for Barcelona, offered an equally candid and critical assessment of the team’s display in Dortmund. He did not shy away from highlighting the team’s deficiencies, particularly the collapse in midfield and their overall sloppy approach to the game.

Lewandowski pinpointed the team’s distinct “lack of control” in the midfield battle, admitting that Barcelona “gave the ball away too many times” throughout the match. The experienced Polish international stressed that such errors and lapses in concentration are simply unacceptable at the elite level of the Champions League, where opponents are capable of ruthlessly exploiting any weaknesses.

In a pragmatic yet firm tone, Lewandowski suggested that if Barcelona were destined to suffer a defeat and make mistakes, it was perhaps better for those shortcomings to be exposed in this quarter-final second leg rather than in the more critical semi-final encounters. However, he issued a clear warning that moving forward, there should be “zero tolerance” for similar performances if the team harbors genuine ambitions of lifting the Champions League trophy.

While acknowledging that Barcelona’s qualification for the semi-finals was ultimately deserved over the course of the two legs against Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski made it unequivocally clear that their current level of performance would simply not be sufficient to compete effectively against the other top teams that have also reached this advanced stage of the competition. He expressed concern that Barcelona were “creating anxiety for themselves” through their unforced errors and lack of control, stating that such an approach is “not sustainable” if they aspire to achieve their ultimate goals in the Champions League.

The collective message emanating from the Barcelona dressing room in the wake of their defeat to Borussia Dortmund, despite securing qualification for the semi-finals, is resoundingly clear: the performance was not up to par, and significant improvements are required if they are to have any chance of progressing further in the competition. The honest and critical assessments from key players like Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski underscore a shared understanding within the squad that their display in Germany was a wake-up call, a stark reminder of the standards expected at a club of Barcelona’s stature.

As they now turn their attention to the daunting challenges that await them in the Champions League semi-finals, Barcelona will need to heed the warnings voiced by De Jong and Lewandowski. The margin for error at this stage of the competition is razor-thin, and any repetition of the sloppy and disjointed performance witnessed in Dortmund could prove fatal to their aspirations of reaching the final. The defeat, while ultimately not preventing their qualification, has undoubtedly served as a timely reminder that Barcelona must rediscover the control, intensity, and composure that characterized their dominant displays earlier in the competition if they are to navigate the treacherous waters of the semi-finals and keep their Champions League dream alive.