Barcelona’s 17-year streak of making to the Champions League knockout rounds each season ended Wednesday with an exit from the group stage. Bayern Munich thrashed Barcelona 3-0 that dumped the five-time European champion into a dismal and finished at third place in Group E.
“We start a new era, from zero, from here. We need to work hard, many things that put Barcelona in this situation. But this is our reality. I cannot say anything else. This is our reality. We are out of Champions League, we are in Europa League, but this is not the place of Barcelona.” said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez
Barcelona will not play in the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the first time in 18 years. The five-time European champion last failed to make the Champions League last 16 in 2003-04. That season Barcelona missed the Champions League due to the poor Spanish league finish the season before.
“We need to work hard, many things that put Barcelona in this situation. But this is our reality. I cannot say anything else. We need to win Europa League, work hard for recovering points in La Liga, winning the cup, win the Super Cup, this is what Barcelona deserves. We will try to work hard. We have many injuries. Maybe we can sign some players now in January. Let’s see.” Xavi added
Second-longest streak in Champions League history
Barcelona’s 17-year streak was the second-longest streak in Champions League history, trailing only Real Madrid’s active 25-season streak. Barcelona’s streak started in Messi’s first season in the senior team (2004-05) and ends in the club’s first season since he left. Before Lionel Messi left for PSG, in all 17 years of his first-team career at Barcelona the club took its place among the elite in the round of 16 each February. They won four Champions League titles in that era.
The round-of-16 draw will start from Monday, with group winners placed in one pool and group-runners up in another. The decline also extends at home and to the club’s finances. Barcelona is currently in seventh place in La Liga means they may not even qualify for next year’s competition. And the years of big spending on wages mean there is no quick fix for Xavi who returned last month to coach the club.