Barcelona clueless, and Luis Enrique takes the blame

Agencies | Updated: 2017-02-16 09:38

Barcelona clueless, and Luis Enrique takes the blame

Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks dejected during their match against Paris St Germain of the UEFA Champions League in Paris, France, Feb 14, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Even with Lionel Messi playing alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar up front, Barcelona was outsmarted and outplayed at nearly every turn by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, losing 4-0 in the first leg of the last 16.

"We were expecting something else. We were prepared for a different game," Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said. "They played better than us and had a better tactical plan than we did." The blame for the fiasco has fallen on coach Luis Enrique — not for the first time. The team has reached the Copa del Rey final, but it trails Real Madrid in the league standings. In both domestic competitions, Barcelona has had its setbacks this season.

Nothing quite as bad as Tuesday night's rout, however.

"They outplayed us and we never had a clear idea of the game," Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said.

The extraordinary result has left Barcelona struggling for answers, and fans wondering if the loss was just a fluke or a sign that the team's dominance may be starting to fade.