Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can Stekked against the “soft” performance of his team after they were routed 4-0 by Barcelona in the first stage of their quarter-final tag of Champions League.
Dortmund needs a wonderful comeback to have the chance to replicate last season's run to last season's final, after a kasting on Montjuic.
Robert Lewandowski hit his former club twice and was accompanied by Wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal on the score sheet.
Lewandowski now has more goals against Dortmund, which he left to Bayern Munich in 2014, than against another team in his career, with 29 in 28 games.
For Dortmund it was their joint Heaviest-Defeat in every European Cup/Champions League match (also 4-0 to Ajax in 2021-22) and another low in a miserable season.
Can was visibly frustrated after the game and told Dazn that it was a matter of attitude, instead of tactics or coaching decisions that led to the defeat.
“It is not a matter of system, but rather whether everyone is willing to give 100% and to make the sacrifices needed in games like this,” Can said.
“Too many things went wrong in the game, we didn't play well today. We were soft. We were not related enough. And moreover we made simple mistakes.
“At this level, those kinds of mistakes are being severely punished. That's why we went down here today.
“We played against a great Barcelona team, they clearly have several good players, so the only way you can beat them is when you go outside as a team, something that we have not done.
“I think we could have done much better, although they are so good, I know that. You have to go for it and we are not, to be honest.
“Now we have to do a good performance and try to win the next game. We owe our fans, and we have to give everything we have.”
Barca will be full of confidence for Tuesday's return bone, with Dortmund eighth in the Bundesliga on 41 points, five drift from the Champions League qualifying qualifying places.
Hansi Flick's Blaugrana could still end the season with four trophies. After they have won the Supercopa de Espana, they lead Liga and will meet this month in the Copa del Rey final.
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