Barcelona’s exit from the Champions League semi-finals did not go unnoticed; it had immediate emotional and structural repercussions within the club.
Despite the team’s tremendous effort against Inter Milan, who seemed to have good fortune on their side, the result sparked a wave of internal criticism, which began to take a practical turn with crucial decisions.
Despite Barcelona leading 3-2 until the 87th minute, Hansi Flick’s team failed to maintain their lead, conceding an equalizer two minutes from time and then conceding a fourth in extra time, dashing any hopes of reaching the final.
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Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo was one of the players most criticized. He came on as a substitute for Inigo Martinez in the second half and performed below expectations, particularly in Inter’s final two goals, appearing exposed and failing to provide defensive cover.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Araujo wasn’t the only one. Criticism was also directed at youngster Hector Fort, whose brief appearance exposed unforgivable shortcomings for a team that aspires to compete for all competitions. Fort didn’t perform at the required level in the crucial minutes he was given.
Fort entered the match in the eighth minute of extra time as a substitute for Eric Garcia, who performed well in the minutes he played. However, from the moment he came on, Fort appeared nervous, out of position, and made hasty decisions. He missed opportunities that would have been better used to calm the game and keep possession, which club officials deemed “an unforgivable mistake at this level of competition.”
According to sources within the club, Hector Fort is already on the transfer list. The club believes his current level does not qualify him for continued participation in the first team. In contrast, Eric Garcia has cemented his position as a strong alternative to Jules Kounde, having demonstrated tactical commitment, good reading of the game, and defensive solidity.
