Barcelona legend weighs in on Inter Milan loss, issues warning ahead of Clasico – ‘It’s unacceptable’ | OneFootball

Barcelona will play their most decisive game of the La Liga season so far as they take on Real Madrid this weekend.

The Catalans, looking to move on from their midweek exit from the UEFA Champions League, will be keen on securing three points that will help them practically seal the league title.

Heading into this game, Rivaldo, a former superstar at Barça, has offered on the team’s recent Champions League semifinal exit against Inter Milan and their upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid.

Rivaldo flags Barcelona’s defensive woes

Barcelona’s elimination at the hands of Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals left fans and players heartbroken, with the team falling just short of their first final in a decade.

For Rivaldo, the defeat exposed a recurring issue that has plagued Barça in Europe this season.

“The match was exciting, but there were mistakes that can’t be made in the Champions League semifinals, and that have also been seen in other matches this season,” he said (h/t SPORT).

“It’s unacceptable that a team like Barcelona concedes four goals in a single match, as also happened against Benfica and Atletico Madrid this season. Or that Inter concedes seven in two matches. At some point, it could happen, and it did,” he added.

Rivaldo went on to continue expressing his displeasure at Barcelona’s performances on the night.

“It’s a painful and difficult loss. They’re small mistakes, but this time there was no way to recover. We conceded goals that shouldn’t be conceded, especially in a semifinal. I had high hopes of seeing Barça in the final,” he said.

The Brazilian football legend, though, continued to back Raphinha as a Ballon d’Or candidate. It must be noted that Rivaldo himself had famously won the Ballon d’Or back in 1999.

Rivaldo still believes Raphinha can win the Ballon d’Or (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“He could continue dreaming of the Ballon d’Or. Even so, I think he still has a chance, because he’s having a great season,” he said about Raphinha.

Rivaldo optimistic about the future

Rivaldo remains confident in Barcelona’s potential to rebound and achieve greatness. He believes the current squad has the talent and character to bring trophies back to Camp Nou.

“If the team remains together, this Barça will win many titles,” Rivaldo said. “I’m proud that the players fought and gave their all on the field.

“They had a spectacular season. It’s a shame they didn’t reach the final and become champions after playing so well.”

Rivaldo went on to particularly heap praise on Barcelona’s youth players and backed them to lead Barça into a successful path.

“The Barcelona team is very young, and next year it will surely be fighting again, because it has already shown that it can return to being the Barcelona it once was, and remain strong for many years to come, largely due to the age of these players.

“They are young players who play as if they have a lot of experience. If this team stays at the club for a few years, it will surely bring home important titles, especially the UCL, which the fans are so eager for, as they haven’t won it since 2015,” he said.

Rivaldo on the upcoming El Clasico

Talking about this weekend’s Clasico against Real Madrid, Rivaldo warned that Barcelona must not repeat the same mistakes and cannot afford to lose again.

“What can’t happen is losing in the Champions League and losing at home against Real Madrid,” Rivaldo warned.

Barça can’t afford to lose to Madrid after Inter defeat, warns Rivaldo. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“It’s a very good thing for the players to have a game like this to turn things around. It comes at the right time. If it were against a middling team, I think they’d be taking risks, but against Real Madrid, they’re motivated.

“It’s time to get to work because there’s no turning back. For everything the players have done this season, they don’t deserve to lose this league, or this game against Real Madrid,” he added.

Stressing the importance of fitness and commitment to the team, Rivaldo further stated that players should be on their toes.

“The players have to come out at 100%, because it’s a match that gives you the title. Even if it’s not mathematically, you’re already seven points behind you and you’re practically the champion.

“It’s a very good thing for the players to have a game like this to turn things around, show that they’re great and that they gave everything against Inter,” he said.

Finally, Rivaldo admitted that there should be no shortage of commitment and determination heading into the Real Madrid. “There’s plenty of motivation against Madrid,” he concluded.