With the repercussions of Barcelona’s Champions League exit still lingering, the team has no choice but to focus its efforts on Sunday’s highly anticipated match against Real Madrid, as El Clásico becomes a crucial moment in determining the fate of La Liga.
A victory for Barcelona would bring them closer to the title, as they would need only two more points to secure it, with three matches remaining. Even a draw would be an acceptable result, as it would require the Catalan team to collect five points from the remaining nine. A loss, however, would leave the title race wide open.
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In a remarkable and unusual move, Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta issued a warning to coach Hansi Flick against repeating what he described as the “catastrophic mistake” the team made against Inter Milan, directly referring to the inclusion of Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo.
Iniesta, known for his pragmatism and calm demeanor, seemed unusually decisive this time, saying, “Just the thought of Araujo playing in El Clásico brings Real Madrid closer to clinching the La Liga title and puts Barcelona’s entire season at risk.” He added that he is not just asking for the player to be excluded from this crucial match, but that he believes Araujo must be permanently removed from the starting lineup for the foreseeable future.
Iniesta’s statements come at a very sensitive time, as Barcelona prepares to face Real Madrid in a Clásico that could determine the outcome of La Liga. Araujo has been subjected to harsh criticism following his poor performance against Inter Milan, which ultimately contributed to the team’s Champions League exit and negatively impacted his reputation within the squad and among fans.
Iniesta’s clear message to Flick indicates that confidence in Araujo has reached an all-time low, and that keeping him in the squad could jeopardize the remainder of the season.
