An interview by Barcelona player Gundogan caused surprise and dissatisfaction in the Barcelona dressing room. He has publicly stated that he is disappointed with his team's performance in the national derby and would like to see more anger and disappointment. Such candid remarks made the Barcelona players feel unaccustomed, and even thought that Gundogan had brought his superiority as treble-winning captain into the speech.
Barcelona boss Xavi and members of the coaching staff also discussed Gundogan's comments. They believe that Gundogan's statement may have been due to the anger and resentment of seeing some of his team-mates playing on their phones when he entered the dressing room after the game, hence the remarks made in front of the media.
Gundogan, captain of Manchester City, led the team to the league, Champions League and FA Cup treble last season. He joined FC Barcelona this summer and came to Barcelona with quality, experience and a strong desire to win. Barcelona really need players like Gundogan right now. Although his remarks may seem a little aggressive, they knock on the problems of the Barça dressing room right now.
Despite the energy of Barca's young players, the desire for victory and glory is not strong enough and is not reflected in the fighting spirit on the pitch. This is the most important link that Barcelona need to strengthen and the most important link for them to return to the top team. Compared to the glory days of the past, Barcelona's performance has gradually declined in recent seasons.
Their former domination of Europe seems to be fading away, and their passing and possession styles are being overtaken by other teams. This begs the question, what is Barcelona's problem? From the inside of the team, the atmosphere in the Barcelona dressing room is no longer as united as it used to be, and the tacit understanding between the players is not what it used to be. In addition to the controversy caused by Gundogan's remarks, a number of other issues have gradually surfaced.
On the one hand, the superstars in the team seem to be more concerned with individual results and awards than with the interests of the team as a whole. On the other hand, many young players lack experience and consistency, making it difficult to take responsibility at crucial moments. These issues have led to a decline in the overall strength of the team and have a direct impact on the team's performance in the game.
Barcelona's tactics also need to be adjusted and improved to a certain extent. In the past, Barcelona were mainly characterized by possession and passing, but as other teams continue to evolve and upgrade their defensive strategies, this tactic is no longer lethal enough. Barcelona need to innovate tactically, adding more variations and breakthroughs to cope with the opponent's targeted defence. Only tactical innovation can allow Barcelona to regain its advantage.
All in all, Barcelona's problems are not just because of the controversy caused by Gundogan's remarks, but also involve the internal atmosphere of the team, the personal mentality of the players, tactical adjustments and reinforcements. To get back to the top, Barcelona need to consider these issues and take measures to solve them. Only with improvements and adjustments in all aspects can Barcelona regain its identity as a strong team and once again show its strength and charm on the European stage.