Former Real player criticizes Barca's tactics

Barcelona’s surprise defeat in Seville sent shock waves throughout Europe. A 4-1 trashing from a team which nearly escaped relegation last season was a true surprise. The current La Liga champions were crippled with injures and that was the only excuse they can have. Still, the number of allowed goals is worrying. And one person familiar with the team believes that injuries had no impact in this case, but rather the tactics.

Tony Kroos played in Spain for 10 years and with Real Madrid, he faced Barcelona at least twice a year and with German national team he worked with Hansi Flick, who was first assistant and then the manager in the national team. And despite injuries to important players like Raphinha, Yamal, Gavi and Fermin, the German midfielder believes that it’s Barca’s style of play the reason why they lose games.

“Barcelona have one of the most attractive styles, if not the most attractive in all of Europe, but I think they take too many risks. On a bad day for Pedri or Lamine or Raphinha, any team can hurt them and beat them, you can knock them out of the Champions League. That happened last season against Inter, and this season, they will come up against a team of that type that knocks them out” said the German in his podcast 'Einfach mal Luppen'.

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Kroos also pointed out at some details which most people maybe didn’t notice.

“Starting from the 75th minute, you notice that everyone is more fatigued, and you see them not changing their style to close the spaces. If you’re tired and don’t change your way of playing, it becomes very obvious how exposed you are” he noted.