‘We can’t play like this’ – De Jong and Lewandowski deliver brutal verdict on Dortmund loss | OneFootball

Despite booking their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in six years, Barcelona’s 1-3 loss against Borussia Dortmund left a bitter taste in the mouths of the players.

While the aggregate score of 5-3 was enough to send the Catalans through, the performance on German soil has raised serious concerns inside the dressing room.

Frenkie de Jong did not shy away from criticism after the final whistle. The Dutch midfielder admitted the team’s performance was far below the required level.

“I’m relieved to say we qualified. We didn’t play well, but it’s hard to explain why. Many players didn’t perform well,” he confessed.

Speaking further, De Jong was clearly disappointed despite the team’s progression.

“I think we know we can play much better than we showed tonight and it leaves a taste like that, like that. I’m sure we’ll be happier tomorrow to be in the semis,” he added.

Lewandowski shares his thoughts

Barcelona players were self critical. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Robert Lewandowski echoed his teammate’s sentiments and issued a stern warning to the squad. The Polish striker was frank in his assessment:

“We lacked control in midfield, we made a lot of mistakes. We lost possession, we gave away passes, we made it easy for the opponent.”

The veteran forward stressed the need to improve, especially with tougher challenges ahead.

“Today’s game must be analysed thoroughly. We have to learn from it. We can’t play like this.

“If we were going to lose and make mistakes, it’s better that we made them at this stage. Going forward, there’s no room for those errors,” he insisted.

Lewandowski, who is just one goal away from reaching 100 goals in a Barcelona shirt, played a crucial role by forcing an own goal. However, even that moment could not cover up the overall disappointment.

“It was a crazy game. Looking at both games, we’re in the semi-finals because we deserve it, but we’re creating tension and anxiety,” he admitted.

Source: Mundo Deportivo