Deco calls out the squad for lack of competitiveness and questions refereeing decisions in a setback in the capital

The 4-0 defeat suffered by the Catalan team in Estádio Metropolitano generated immediate and forceful reactions behind the scenes at the club. The sporting director, Deco, showed visible irritation with the performance presented by the players in the first match of the Copa semi-final of Para the manager, the team entered the field without the intensity required for a decisive duel, being largely dominated by the aggression and pace imposed by the home team from the opening whistle.

The elastic setback significantly complicated the chances of qualifying for the final of the tournament, forcing the team to seek a historic turnaround in the return game. The squad’s passive stance was the central point of criticism, with the assessment that it lacked “fighting spirit” to match the opponent’s physical strength. The rival’s superiority was built on quick transitions and territorial dominance, aspects that the visiting team was unable to neutralize over the ninety minutes.

Dissatisfaction with technology and disciplinary criteria

In addition to the technical performance below expectations, the performance of the refereeing team was the target of harsh comments from the Blaugrana board. The focus of the complaints was on the excessive delay in VAR reviews, which paralyzed the game for long periods and chilled any attempt at reaction. One of the moves mentioned involved the cancellation of a goal by defender Cubarsí in the final stage, the analysis of which took almost ten minutes to complete, causing discomfort and breaking the rhythm of the match.

Another point of contention was the lack of rigor in actions considered violent. Deco highlighted a hard tackle by Giuliano Simeone on full-back Balde, where the cleats of the boot hit the player’s shin. The on-field decision, maintained even with the presence of technology, was classified as a serious error that put the athlete’s physical integrity at risk, without due punishment with a red card, which could have changed the dynamics of the confrontation.

Difficulties with the lawn and erased individualities

The conditions of the playing field were also included in the justifications for the technical difficulties encountered during the duel in Madri. The stadium floor was unstable, causing frequent slips that hampered the exchange of passes and the stability of the athletes at key moments. Embora the board recognized that this does not justify the score, it was highlighted that the state of the pitch favored the opponent’s more physical style of play to the detriment of possession of the ball.

Individually, important parts of the tactical scheme did not perform as expected. The young Lamine Yamal, usually an offensive outlet, found it difficult to overcome the double marking and created little. The lack of inspiration from the attackers, added to the defensive failures that allowed four goals, exposed the need for a drastic change in attitude for the next commitments of the season.

Scenario for the decision in Camp Nou

The mission to reverse the disadvantage now becomes the main focus of sports planning for the coming weeks. The sporting director emphasized that, despite the extreme difficulty, the club needs to present a response that matches its history in front of the fans. The internal analysis points out that the winter signings of Atlético from