Henry: 'If Barca plays like this, the Champions League is basically out of reach'

Thierry Henry condemned Barcelona's reckless approach following the draw against Club Brugge, stressing that Barca’s chances in the Champions League are slim unless their defense gets better.

Barcelona continues to face serious doubts after the 3-3 draw with Club Brugge early on November 6th, and Thierry Henry’s latest criticism has further fueled concerns about their Champions League campaign. According to Henry, Barcelona’s defense is too risky, weakening their European ambitions with each round. Conceding goals too easily has caused Barca to lose tactical stability and struggle to maintain form during a demanding schedule.

Henry reminded that Barcelona had many issues against Benfica and Inter before, and now they are repeating the same mistakes. He stated: "The number of goals conceded is too high, mostly very easy for the opponents to score." The French legend also referenced last season’s match against Bayern, considering the result suspicious because, despite winning, Barca’s defense was repeatedly exposed with gaps and lacked necessary cover at the back.

The former Barca star pointed out that the goalkeeper frequently facing one-on-one situations is unusual and reflects an unbalanced defensive system. Henry questioned why Barcelona continually puts themselves at risk instead of controlling the game more sensibly. He believes the constant threat of conceding puts enormous pressure on players, especially since the Champions League demands intense focus for the full 90 minutes.

Henry asserted that opposing teams have thoroughly understood Barcelona’s weaknesses and can exploit them easily with just a few simple moves. This forces Barca into a defensive stance often, despite having a strong attack. If not fixed soon, Barcelona may continue to struggle in the Champions League, as recurring errors each season erode the team’s resilience in big matches.

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick defends his philosophy, claiming that lacking intensity in the Champions League is pointless. However, the system’s current lack of smooth operation raises the question of whether Barcelona has enough time to adjust, especially as opponents grow stronger and more ready to exploit defensive flaws. Can Barca turn things around quickly to get back on track in Europe?

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Coach Hansi Flick points out Barca’s 'critical' weakness Barcelona’s disappointing 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League. After the match, coach Hansi Flick criticized the defense’s lack of concentration and urged the team to improve pressing intensity. See more